Driver Evaluation Test at IMS To Scout New Talent for INDY NXT

The road to the 2027 INDY NXT by Firestone season begins Monday, Sept. 21, with the annual New Driver Evaluation on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

The one-day test on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course is open exclusively to drivers who have never driven an INDY NXT car and have completed a full season in one of the world’s approved feeder championships. The evaluation gives accomplished young drivers their first opportunity to experience INDY NXT machinery while allowing teams to assess talent for potential full-season rides in 2027.

The New Driver Evaluation has become a key fixture on the offseason calendar, drawing experienced drivers from premier development series around the world. Last year’s test at Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Illinois, included four FIA Formula 2 veterans, along with champions and race winners from several top junior formula championships. Six of the 12 participating drivers ultimately secured full-season seats for the 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone season – including 2026 standouts Enzo Fittipaldi and Alessandro de Tullio.

Fittipaldi (photo, top) landed a ride with HMD Motorsports and leads the INDY NXT point standings with three races remaining in the season. He also leads the series with four victories.

De Tullio (photo, above), a rookie driver with AJ Foyt Racing, leads the series with eight poles, one shy of tying Pato O’Ward for the most in a single season. He is a two-time race winner, including last Sunday’s race at Portland International Raceway.

“I think the driver evaluation test is a pretty good way to get familiar with the car and the tire,” de Tullio said. “It’s something pretty unique, this car, and it’s a lot of fun to drive. So, I think it’s a good test to just get used to everything and see how everything works.”

The evaluation provides drivers an important opportunity to learn the characteristics of an INDY NXT car and Firestone tires while gaining valuable track time before offseason testing begins.

“I felt like the driver evaluation test was definitely beneficial,” Fittipaldi said. “You get extra track time and get to feel how the car is, so I think it’s very beneficial. If you can do it, I would do it. I think it’s great.”

The evaluation also gives teams an early look at potential candidates before the official offseason testing program gets underway.

“The New Driver Evaluation has become a valuable opportunity for both drivers and teams earlier in the preseason cycle,” INDY NXT by Firestone Director Kirk Dooley said. “For qualified drivers, it’s a chance to experience the unique demands of an INDY NXT car while evaluating the next step in their careers. For our teams, it’s an opportunity to identify emerging talent from around the world early enough to maximize participation in the series’ official offseason testing program as preparations for the 2027 season begin.”

Drivers interested in participating should contact their preferred INDY NXT team regarding availability and selection. Invitations are coordinated through participating teams and are limited to drivers who meet the series’ minimum experience requirements.