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Five-Time IndyCar Champ Alex Palou Shines in First Indy NXT Road Test
Highlights
- Alex Palou led 22-car Indy NXT test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
- Palou posted fastest lap: 1:14.5050 on challenging IMS road course
- Polish driver Tymek Kucharczyk finished second with 1:14.8209 lap
- Max Taylor and Max Garcia secured third and fourth fastest times
- Palou praised learning from young Indy NXT drivers during test
- Test included 22 cars completing 1,573 laps for 2027 season prep
Alex Palou tops a 22-car Indy NXT field at the Chris Griffis Memorial Test on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course, setting the day’s benchmark at 1:14.5050.
Driving the #11 Chip Ganassi Racing entry, he adapts quickly on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn layout amid chilly, overcast conditions, providing immediate correlation data between Ganassi’s IndyCar and development programs.
Palou clocks 1:14.5050 to lead the Chris Griffis Memorial Test at IMS road course.
The five-time IndyCar champion frames it as learning, stepping into an Indy NXT car for the first time and admitting rookie status. “I didn’t expect to be first,” he says.
HMD Motorsports’ Tymek Kucharczyk places second with 1:14.8209. The Polish driver’s rookie campaign includes wins at the IMS road course and Laguna Seca.
Andretti Global’s Max Taylor is third on 1:14.8453.
Max Garcia takes fourth with 1:14.9443 after an Abel Motorsports rookie year, and becomes the second-youngest Indy NXT winner with his Milwaukee Mile victory.
The field totals 1,573 laps across 22 cars, delivering deep setup and durability data.
Jack Beeton rounds out the top five at 1:14.9577 for Andretti Global, following a season racing with HMD.
Ganassi prospect Alessandro de Tullio is sixth with 1:15.0009, referencing two wins and eight poles from his rookie Indy NXT season.
The event honors former Schmidt Peterson Motorsports manager Chris Griffis and doubles as a development yardstick for 2027 preparation.
For Ganassi, Palou’s mileage strengthens feedback loops between IndyCar and NXT, sharpening baseline correlation and driver coaching.
Rivals HMD and Andretti benchmark their front-runners against a proven IndyCar reference, clarifying strengths in braking stability, traction, and long-run balance.
The program complements ongoing rules and platform work, including the recent IR-28 Sebring test, as teams plan resources and technical priorities.
Palou reiterates interest in further testing rather than racing, valuing cross-category learning and younger drivers’ perspectives.
“I didn’t expect to be first.” — Alex Palou
The mileage tally ensures robust data on tire warm-up phases, aero efficiency, and procedural drills under cool conditions.
His form feeds a broader story shaped by the Dixon–Lundgaard–Palou battle and sustained title expectations.
In a shifting commercial landscape, strengthened manufacturer partnerships influence test programs and competitive windows.
Visual Summary
Palou’s Shock Debut: Fastest on First Try!
5-time IndyCar champ Alex Palou tops 22-car Indy NXT test at Indianapolis
In freezing, overcast conditions, a veteran steals the rookie spotlight.
In freezing, overcast conditions, a veteran steals the rookie spotlight.
Indianapolis Road Course
1:14.5050s | 14 turns | 2.439 miles
Chilled tarmac. Heated laps.
Kucharczyk
2nd
1:14.821
1:14.821
👑 Palou
1st
1:14.505
1:14.505
(Indy NXT rookie!)
Taylor
3rd
1:14.845
1:14.845
Garcia
4th
1:14.944
1:14.944
Beeton
5th
1:14.958
1:14.958
💨💨
Chilly, overcast day. 1,573 test laps turned.
A champion lands among the rookies… and raises the unexpected bar.
A champion lands among the rookies… and raises the unexpected bar.
❝
I didn’t expect to be first.
It felt strange… but fun! – Alex Palou
22
Cars in the Test
1,573
Total Laps Run
Newcomer
👑
👑
Palou: P1 in Indy NXT
Brian Thompson focuses on IndyCar Series news, from qualifying speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to street-course race strategy. He delivers concise feature stories and technical breakdowns on chassis setups, tire choices, and championship standings for open-wheel enthusiasts.
