Fittipaldi Tops Milwaukee Mile Indy NXT Open Test
Rookie Enzo Fittipaldi leads the Milwaukee Mile Test, topping the Indy NXT open session on his first visit.
Fittipaldi Milwaukee Mile Test: Rookie tops the charts First Time Out
Enzo Fittipaldi made an immediate impression at the Milwaukee Mile on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. The HMD Motorsports rookie topped the Indy NXT by Firestone Open Test on his very first visit to the legendary 1.015-mile oval. It was a strong statement from one of the most exciting young drivers in the INDYCAR development ladder right now.
The numbers: Fast Right Away
Fittipaldi led a busy Indy NXT by Firestone Open Test, posting a top lap of 152.012 mph in the No. 67 HMD Motorsports car. He was one of 24 drivers who hit the track to prepare for the series race on Sunday, August 30 on the 1.015-mile oval.
There were two surprises right behind Fittipaldi on the time sheet. Veteran Niels Koolen, 15th in points, was second at 151.779 mph in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing entry. His CGR teammate James Roe, 21st in points, ended up third at 151.559 in the No. 8 car.
Alessandro de Tullio, who leads the series with seven poles in 10 races this season, clocked in fourth at 151.494 in the No. 14 AJ Foyt Enterprises car. Rookie Jack Beeton rounded out the top five at 151.433 in the No. 45 HMD Motorsports machine.
Fittipaldi Loved the Track Straight Away
Despite it being his first ever time at Milwaukee, the Brazilian rookie wasted no time getting comfortable. Fittipaldi described it as “a really cool track to drive,” saying it is “very different to the other ovals that I’ve tested on, Nashville and Gateway.” He added that “it just feels like two high-speed corners, and there’s not much banking, so there’s a lot you can do in your driving to extract the most from the car and the setup. So, it’s a really fun track.”
The Milwaukee Mile truly drives more like a road course because of the 9-degree banking in the turns. Drivers cannot go flat out, which creates overtaking opportunities in the turns as well as the straights. That kind of technical challenge clearly suits Fittipaldi’s driving style.
A rookie with a famous name and real pace
Brazilian Enzo Fittipaldi continues the storied Fittipaldi family legacy in North American motorsports, joining Indy NXT by Firestone with HMD Motorsports in 2026. He is the grandson of two-time Formula One World Champion and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi, and the brother of former F1 and INDYCAR driver Pietro Fittipaldi.
Fittipaldi is a former Italian F4 champion and FRECA runner-up with Ferrari Driver Academy, who advanced through Formula 3 and Formula 2, earning two wins and 13 podiums in F2 as part of the Red Bull Junior Team.
The pace at Milwaukee was no fluke either. Rookie Fittipaldi is third in series points and has two victories this season. His second win came at Detroit, where he returned the famous Fittipaldi last name to Victory Lane in Detroit for the first time in 35 years, winning the Indy NXT Detroit Grand Prix in the No. 67 HMD Motorsports car after starting seventh.
Two incidents, but nobody got hurt
There were two incidents with contact during the test. In the morning, series veteran and three-time oval-race winner Myles Rowe hit the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2 with his No. 99 Abel Motorsports with Force Indy car. In the afternoon, rookie Carson Etter brushed the SAFER Barrier and continued in his No. 11 Chip Ganassi Racing entry. Neither driver was hurt.
What comes next: Milwaukee on August 30
The test was all about preparation. Twenty-four drivers from the INDYCAR development series prepared for the series race Sunday, August 30 at the historic oval. The next Indy NXT event before that is a doubleheader on July 4-5 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
With Fittipaldi third in the standings and already comfortable at Milwaukee, the August race is shaping up as a big opportunity. The title fight is tight, and every oval result counts. Keep it here at RNT Motorsports for full coverage as the 2026 Indy NXT season heats up. You can also check out our latest from the open-wheel world, including Tsolov’s Spielberg win in F2 and the Camara penalty that shook up the F2 standings.
