Photo: Penske Entertainment/Chris Jones
Indy Nxt teams were back in action this week for two days of semi-private pre-season testing at Sebring.
Last year ended in similar fashion, with teams convening at Barber Motorsports Park on November 13 to test. Although it is a series test in which all teams are invited, and the series’ official photographers are on-site, the test is not run by Indy Nxt so laptimes are not shared by a public timing system.
The Sebring test attracted all 17 of the drivers that have signed up to race this season, but their first day of running on track in 2024 was heavily restricted due to wet weather that became so extreme that the track was almost flooded at one point. Some teams engaged in team-building activities during the lull in proceedings, while others withdrew to their trucks to stay dry.
There were some drivers who did not actually register any laptimes due to the rain, so they had to make the most of the dry period on day two before the wet weather returned.
Juncos Hollinger Racing’s line-up included Michael d’Orlando, who has previously tested with HMD Motorsports but not announced any Indy Nxt plans yet for 2024. The 21-year-old won the USF2000 title in his fourth season in the series back in 2022, then last year took four wins and six poles en route to fourth in the USF Pro 2000 standings.
HMD meanwhile had extra cars out for Nolan Allaer and former Alpine junior Caio Collet.
Allaer was the SCCA National Runoff winner in Formula Continental and Formula F last year but primarily raced wingless cars in the UK as he came sixth in BRSCC National FF1600 and 16th in the Formula Ford Festival.
Collet, who was Formula Renault Eurocup runner-up back in 2020, has spent the last three years racing in the FIA Formula 3 Championship and came ninth in the 2023 standings with one win and three other podiums.
The 2024 Indy Nxt season begins in St. Petersburg on March 8-10, with the 14-race season’s double-header rounds taking place at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May and at Laguna Seca in June.