Photo: Penske Entertainment / Matt Fraver
Indy Nxt teams tested at Sebring on January 20/21, and the big story to emerge from the test were the decisions from IndyCar’s new independent officiating system.
Abel Motorsports was penalised along with its cars driven by Max Garcia, Jordan Missig, Colin Kaminsky and Myles Rowe.
The team was found to have been “in violation of an additional testing limitation” and rig use:
During off-season preparation for the 2026 Indy Nxt season, IndyCar Officiating determined Abel Motorsports tested gearboxes on a rig, which is used to gather and supply data. Rig testing of any race equipment, whether separately or in any combination, is prohibited in the Indy Nxt rulebook.
According to the rulebook, the violation is considered a non-race procedure Penalty (9.2.3.), which includes the issuance of a monetary fine (6.10.1. and 9.2.3.2.) and issuance of a probation (9.2.3.3.).
Abel Motorsports has been fined $25,000 and must supply all data to IndyCar, which will then be distributed to all other teams in the interest of fairness and competitive balance. Abel Motorsports, including all four entrants, also have been placed on probation through the conclusion of the race at World Wide Technology Raceway, scheduled for Sunday, June 7 2026.
Members may contest the imposition of the penalties detailed in the review and appeal procedures of the Indy Nxt rulebook.
The June race at the Gateway oval is round six and race eight of the season, and almost the halfway point of the campaign.
Although data from rig testing is of use, anything which benefitted Abel’s pace is at Sebring is of limited relevance since the bumpy airfield track is not raced on by Indy Nxt.
HMD Motorsports’ Enzo Fittipaldi was the fastest driver in the test, with a gap of less than 0.1 seconds to Andretti Global’s Max Taylor in second place.
Alessandro de Tullio (AJ Foyt Racing), Garcia, Juan Manuel Correa (Cusick Morgan Motorsports) and Rowe completed the top six, with 24 drivers on track.
Andretti’s Lochie Hughes, who came third in the championship last year, was only 14th on the end-of-test timesheet.
The drivers who tested but currently do not have Indy Nxt race seats for 2026 were Matteo Nannini and Jack William Miller.