Enzo Fittipaldi wins first INDY NXT Friday race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Courtesy Photo – INDY NXT by Firestone

Written from press release

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — May 9, 2026

Enzo Fittipaldi drove from 10th on the starting grid to win his first career INDY NXT by Firestone race Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, returning one of racing’s most recognizable names to victory lane at the historic track.

Fittipaldi, driving the No. 67 HMD Motorsports entry, outdueled Lochie Hughes in changing weather conditions to win Race 1 of the Indianapolis Grand Prix doubleheader on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile IMS road course.

“Honestly, that was probably one of the best drives of my career,” Fittipaldi said. “I just can’t thank my team enough. We had a tricky qualifying. We knew we had the pace. Just so happy with the race today. We were flying there in the dry and in the wet. We started P10 and won the race. I didn’t expect this but knew the win was coming.”

The victory made Fittipaldi the fourth first-time INDY NXT winner in five races this season, joining Nikita Johnson, Max Taylor and Alessandro de Tullio.

The win also added to the Fittipaldi family’s history at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Enzo Fittipaldi’s grandfather, Emerson Fittipaldi, won the Indianapolis 500 in 1989 and 1993. His cousin, Christian Fittipaldi, teamed with Joao Barbosa to win the 2014 Brickyard Grand Prix sports car race at IMS.

“My family has a very successful history here in Indianapolis and the Indy 500,” Fittipaldi said. “This legendary track, to get my first race win here in INDY NXT is very special.”

Hughes led the first 12 laps from the pole before rain intensified and changed the race. A caution came out on Lap 11, and the field was red-flagged one lap later so teams could switch to wet Firestone Firehawk tires and make adjustments.

Fittipaldi had already climbed to third before the stoppage. When racing resumed on Lap 16, he quickly closed on Hughes. The two battled for several laps before Fittipaldi made the winning pass on Lap 25 exiting Turn 9.

A late caution on Lap 28 after Bryce Aron’s No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing entry stopped in Turn 6 helped seal the result. Fittipaldi crossed the Yard of Bricks first on the next lap after the race became a timed event because of the red flag.

Hughes finished second in the No. 26 Andretti Global entry despite leading 25 of the 29 completed laps. Johnson finished third in the No. 21 Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR entry, earning his fourth podium finish in five starts this season.

Tymek Kucharczyk finished fourth for HMD Motorsports, and Max Taylor finished fifth in the No. 28 Susan G. Komen Andretti Global car.

The race featured a record 284 on-track passes, according to INDYCAR.

Fittipaldi’s victory moved him from fourth to second in the INDY NXT standings, 23 points behind Johnson entering Saturday’s second race of the doubleheader.

Race 2 is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Saturday on FS1, FOX One and INDYCAR Radio. Taylor and de Tullio are scheduled to start on the front row, with Taylor on the pole.

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