Five-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou swapped his usual race car for an INDY NXT machine on Friday, October 16, and immediately found himself at the top of the timing sheets. Despite having never driven the car before, the Chip Ganassi Racing star outpaced all 21 other drivers at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. And even Palou admitted he hadn’t seen that coming.
Apparently, winning five IndyCar championships isn’t enough to keep Alex Palou busy. Just days after testing IndyCar’s next-generation IR-28 chassis at Sebring, the Spaniard was back behind the wheel of something completely different. This time, however, he wasn’t helping develop the future of IndyCar’s top category but getting his first taste of INDY NXT by Firestone machinery. And despite having no previous experience in the car, he ended up being the fastest driver on track.
Palou climbed into Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 11 INDY NXT entry for Friday’s Chris Griffis Memorial Test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, joining a competitive field of 22 drivers on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course. With chilly temperatures and overcast skies hanging over Central Indiana, conditions weren’t exactly ideal, but that didn’t seem to bother the five-time champion. He quickly got to grips with the unfamiliar car and eventually posted a best lap of 1:14.5050, putting him more than three-tenths of a second ahead of his closest rival, Tymek Kucharczyk.
It was an impressive performance from a driver who had never previously driven an INDY NXT car, and perhaps the most surprising part was that Palou himself hadn’t expected to finish the day on top.
Why Was Palou Driving an INDY NXT Car?
Palou has become so successful in IndyCar that seeing his name at the top of the timing sheets is hardly surprising anymore. However, Friday’s test presented a different challenge, as the INDY NXT car has its own handling characteristics and performance demands that require a different driving approach. Despite his extensive experience at the highest level of American open-wheel racing, Palou arrived at Indianapolis without any previous mileage in the machinery, effectively making him a rookie for the day.
“Feels strange, but it feels good,” Palou said after the test. He admitted that being considered a rookie again felt unusual, especially after everything he has achieved in IndyCar, but he also pointed out that moving from a higher category into a junior series doesn’t automatically make things easy.
The drivers competing in INDY NXT spend entire seasons learning how to extract the maximum performance from these cars, developing an understanding of their handling, braking characteristics and tires. Palou, meanwhile, had only one day to familiarize himself with the package while competing against drivers who already knew it inside out. That made his performance even more impressive, although he was quick to acknowledge the quality of the field.
“I didn’t expect to be first,” he admitted, making it clear that even someone with five IndyCar championships to his name can still find himself pleasantly surprised by a day at the racetrack.
Palou’s appearance in an INDY NXT car might have caught some fans off guard, but it certainly wasn’t an indication that he was considering a move away from IndyCar. Instead, the test offered him an opportunity to experience different machinery while supporting Chip Ganassi Racing’s preparations for the future.
According to Palou, the idea first came up during the 2026 IndyCar season when the team approached him about participating in the test. For someone who genuinely enjoys spending time behind the wheel, it wasn’t a particularly difficult decision.
“I love driving cars, any kind of car,” Palou explained.
Although the INDY NXT machine is quite different from what he’s used to, Palou saw the experience as another opportunity to learn. Even at his level, getting behind the wheel of an unfamiliar car can provide valuable insights, particularly when it comes to adapting driving techniques and understanding different vehicle characteristics.
He also made a point of praising the young drivers competing in the series, acknowledging just how competitive INDY NXT has become. While many of them are still working toward their ultimate goal of reaching IndyCar, they already possess an impressive level of speed and experience in their own machinery. Palou was clearly aware that he wasn’t going to have an easy time simply because he was coming from the top category.
As for whether fans might see him competing in an actual INDY NXT race someday, Palou was quick to rule that out. He’s more than happy to take part in testing whenever the opportunity comes along, but racing in the junior championship isn’t something he’s planning to pursue.
Tymek Kucharczyk Leads the INDY NXT Regulars
While Palou’s unexpected appearance and fastest lap naturally attracted plenty of attention, Tymek Kucharczyk also had a strong day at Indianapolis. The Polish driver finished second overall in the No. 71 HMD Motorsports entry, recording a best lap of 1:14.8209, just 0.3159 seconds behind the five-time IndyCar champion.
Kucharczyk arrived at the test following an impressive rookie season in 2026, during which he claimed two victories and finished third in the championship standings. His performances throughout the year established him as one of the standout drivers in the series, and his pace at Indianapolis suggested that he was carrying that momentum into preparations for the next campaign.
The Indianapolis road course has already been a successful venue for Kucharczyk. He won there on May 9, and his most recent race before Friday’s test had also ended in victory when he claimed the season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on September 6.
With that kind of form behind him, Kucharczyk had every reason to approach the test with confidence. Although he ultimately had to settle for second place behind Palou, finishing ahead of the other INDY NXT regulars was another encouraging result as attention begins to turn toward 2027.
Max Taylor was another driver who demonstrated strong pace during Friday’s test, finishing third overall in the No. 28 Andretti Global entry. His quickest lap of 1:14.8453 put him just 0.0244 seconds behind Kucharczyk, highlighting how closely matched the leading INDY NXT competitors were throughout the day.
Taylor finished fourth in the 2026 championship and returned to the same Andretti Global car for the test at Indianapolis. After gaining valuable experience during the previous season, he continued to show the consistency and speed that made him one of the more competitive drivers in the field. His performance also suggested that Andretti Global could once again be a team to watch as preparations for the 2027 season continue.
Just behind Taylor was Max Garcia, who finished fourth with a best lap of 1:14.9443 while testing for HMD Motorsports. The Miami high school senior had already made a name for himself during his rookie campaign, particularly when he became the second-youngest winner in INDY NXT history with his victory at the Milwaukee Mile on August 30.
Garcia spent the 2026 season competing for Abel Motorsports, making his appearance with HMD an interesting opportunity to experience a different team environment. Despite the change, he was immediately competitive and finished less than half a second behind Palou.
With the top four drivers separated by only 0.4393 seconds, the test provided another indication of just how competitive the INDY NXT field has become. Even with a five-time IndyCar champion setting the pace, the leading junior-series drivers weren’t far behind.
Beeton Completes the Top Five and de Tullio Gives Palou a Valuable Reference
Jack Beeton also enjoyed a productive day at Indianapolis, completing the top five with a best lap of 1:14.9577 in the No. 29 Andretti Global entry. The Australian had spent the 2026 season racing for HMD Motorsports before getting the opportunity to test with Andretti, and he quickly demonstrated that he could be competitive in different machinery.
Beeton’s quickest lap was just 0.0134 seconds slower than Garcia’s, while only 0.1368 seconds separated the drivers from second through fifth place. Around a 2.439-mile circuit, those are incredibly small margins, showing how little room there was for error among the leading competitors.
His performance also added another encouraging result for Andretti Global, which placed both Taylor and Beeton inside the top five. Although testing times don’t always provide a complete picture of a team’s competitiveness, having two cars running near the front was certainly a positive way to continue preparations for the next season.
For Beeton, the test was another opportunity to gain experience and demonstrate his potential, particularly as teams and drivers begin evaluating their options for 2027.
One of the more interesting storylines from Friday’s test was the presence of Alessandro de Tullio, who made his first appearance with Chip Ganassi Racing after an impressive rookie campaign with AJ Foyt Racing. The young driver had been one of the standout performers during the 2026 INDY NXT season, collecting two victories and eight pole positions while establishing himself as an exciting prospect for the future.
De Tullio drove the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing entry at Indianapolis and finished sixth overall with a best lap of 1:15.0009, putting him 0.4959 seconds behind Palou. Although he narrowly missed out on a place inside the top five, his performance provided the team with another useful reference as it continued its testing program.
For Palou, having de Tullio in the same garage was particularly valuable. Despite competing in different championships throughout the season, the five-time IndyCar champion had been following the youngster’s progress and was well aware of the speed he had demonstrated.
“I think we have an incredible reference in our team with de Tullio,” Palou said, explaining that he had paid close attention to his performances during the year.
It’s an interesting insight into how closely Palou follows the talent developing through the American open-wheel ladder. Even with his own championship commitments and involvement in the IR-28 development program, he clearly takes an interest in the drivers who could eventually become his competitors in IndyCar.
Friday’s test gave him the opportunity not only to experience the INDY NXT car for himself but also to work alongside one of the category’s promising young drivers. For Chip Ganassi Racing, having both drivers on track provided an opportunity to gather feedback from two very different perspectives: an established IndyCar champion experiencing the car for the first time and a young driver already familiar with the series.
A Busy Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Palou’s surprise appearance wasn’t the only story from the Chris Griffis Memorial Test, because with 22 cars on track, there was plenty of activity throughout the day. The field completed a combined 1,573 laps, providing teams with valuable data as they begin looking toward the 2027 season. Palou completed 61 laps, while several other drivers accumulated significantly more mileage. Martinius Stenshorne recorded the highest individual lap count with 90 laps, followed by Max Taylor and G3 Argyros with 87 each. That kind of mileage is particularly valuable during testing.
While the fastest lap attracts attention, teams are also interested in evaluating setups, understanding tire behavior and helping drivers become comfortable with their cars. For newcomers, the test offered an opportunity to gain experience before the next championship campaign. For returning drivers, it was a chance to build on what they learned throughout 2026. And for Palou, it was another enjoyable day doing what he loves most: Driving race cars.
The Chris Griffis Memorial Test also carries special meaning within the IndyCar paddock. The event is named in honor of Chris Griffis, the former Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team manager who died suddenly in September 2011. The annual test continues to recognize his contribution to the sport while giving the next generation of open-wheel drivers an important opportunity to prepare for the future.
It’s a fitting combination: INDY NXT exists to develop drivers who hope to reach the NTT IndyCar Series, and the Chris Griffis Memorial Test provides an early look at the talent preparing for that next step. This year, it also featured an unexpected visitor from the very top of the ladder and he certainly made his presence felt.
What Does Palou’s Performance Really Tell Us?
Looking at the timing sheets, it would be easy to say that Alex Palou simply showed everyone why he is a five-time IndyCar champion. And while there is certainly some truth to that, his performance deserves a little more context. After all, jumping into an unfamiliar INDY NXT car and immediately setting the fastest lap against drivers who have spent an entire season getting to know the machinery is no small achievement.
Of course, test results never tell the whole story. Teams often arrive with different objectives, whether that’s experimenting with setups, evaluating tire performance or simply collecting as much data as possible. Fuel loads and individual testing programs can also influence lap times, meaning the final classification doesn’t necessarily reflect how everyone would perform under actual race conditions. Still, none of that takes away from what Palou managed to accomplish on Friday.
The Spaniard had never driven an INDY NXT car before, yet he ended the day more than three-tenths of a second ahead of his closest competitor, Tymek Kucharczyk. That’s an impressive margin, especially considering how competitive the field was behind him. While it’s impossible to know exactly how much each driver had left in reserve, Palou certainly made the most of his first opportunity in the car.
Perhaps the most interesting part is how naturally he seems to adapt to different machinery. Whether he’s fighting for IndyCar championships, helping develop the next-generation IR-28 or spending a day getting familiar with an INDY NXT car, Palou has a remarkable ability to find his rhythm quickly. Friday’s test was another example of that versatility, and although it was only a test, finishing on top of a 22-car field on his very first attempt is something worth talking about.
INDY NXT Looks Ahead to 2027
With the Chris Griffis Memorial Test complete, attention now turns toward the next INDY NXT season. The 2027 championship is scheduled to begin on the first weekend of March on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.
For drivers such as Kucharczyk, Taylor, Garcia, Beeton and de Tullio, the Indianapolis test offered another opportunity to build momentum ahead of the new campaign. There will be plenty of questions to answer before the season begins.
Which teams will emerge as the early favorites? Which drivers will make the biggest improvements? And who will establish themselves as the next serious candidate for an IndyCar opportunity? Those answers will come in time.
For now, though, the final timing sheets from Indianapolis belong to Alex Palou. The five-time IndyCar champion arrived as an INDY NXT rookie, admitted he didn’t expect to be fastest and then proceeded to beat everyone: Just another Friday at the office for Alex Palou.
Official Results: 2026 Chris Griffis Memorial Test
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course (Friday, October 16, 2026)
The following results are taken from the official INDY NXT by Firestone combined practice classification after Test Session 2.
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Best lap | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Alex Palou (R) | 1:14.5050 | — | 61 |
| 2 | 71 | Tymek Kucharczyk | 1:14.8209 | +0.3159 | 51 |
| 3 | 28 | Max Taylor | 1:14.8453 | +0.3403 | 87 |
| 4 | 6 | Max Garcia | 1:14.9443 | +0.4393 | 68 |
| 5 | 29 | Jack Beeton | 1:14.9577 | +0.4527 | 74 |
| 6 | 10 | Alessandro de Tullio | 1:15.0009 | +0.4959 | 72 |
| 7 | 55 | Leonardo Escorpioni (R) | 1:15.0564 | +0.5514 | 78 |
| 8 | 15 | Matteo Nannini | 1:15.1011 | +0.5961 | 63 |
| 9 | 4 | Bart Harrison (R) | 1:15.1583 | +0.6533 | 82 |
| 10 | 20 | Jose Garfias (R) | 1:15.2195 | +0.7145 | 64 |
| 11 | 27 | Martinius Stenshorne (R) | 1:15.2255 | +0.7205 | 90 |
| 12 | 14 | Seb Murray | 1:15.2407 | +0.7357 | 63 |
| 13 | 92 | Jack Jeffers (R) | 1:15.2646 | +0.7596 | 70 |
| 14 | 26 | G3 Argyros (R) | 1:15.3653 | +0.8603 | 87 |
| 15 | 21 | Bryce Aron | 1:15.4057 | +0.9007 | 76 |
| 16 | 77 | Sophia Flörsch (R) | 1:15.7047 | +1.1997 | 75 |
| 17 | 51 | Jacob Abel | 1:15.7192 | +1.2142 | 75 |
| 18 | 9 | Frankie Mossman (R) | 1:15.7194 | +1.2144 | 51 |
| 19 | 32 | Niels Koolen | 1:15.8044 | +1.2994 | 75 |
| 20 | 25 | Teddy Musella (R) | 1:15.8315 | +1.3265 | 86 |
| 21 | 18 | Cem Bölükbasi (R) | 1:16.0350 | +1.5300 | 67 |
| 22 | 8 | Alexander Koreiba | 1:16.1694 | +1.6644 | 58 |
Test statistics
- Fastest driver: Alex Palou — 1:14.5050
- Fastest average lap speed: 117.850 mph
- Total drivers: 22
- Total completed laps: 1,573
- Circuit length: 2.439 miles (3.925 km)
- Circuit configuration: 14-turn road course
- (R) = Rookie
written by Philipp Kraus // Media Credit: Penske Entertainment
