Enzo Fittipaldi snags first Indy NXT win in Race 1 of Indianapolis doubleheader

A Fittipaldi is once again a winner at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Enzo Fittipaldi (HMD Motorsports) pulled off late heroics to win the first race of the doubleheader weekend at the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course layout at IMS. He takes his first career Indy NXT win at the same track his grandfather, Emerson Fittipaldi, claimed two Indianapolis 500 victories.

The 24-year-old Brazilian-American started 10th and progressed through the field until making the winning pass – a daring move by Lochie Hughes – with six minutes to go in what became a 55-minute timed race due to conditions.

“Honestly, that was probably one of the best drives of my career,” Fittipaldi said. “I just can’t thank my team enough. They did a great job today. We had a tricky qualifying there when we knew we had the pace and yeah, just so happy with the race today.

“I think we were flying today in the dry and then in the wet, and we started P10 and won the race. Honestly, didn’t expect this, but I knew that a win was coming.”

And doing it at a place his family's name has reached the highest of motorsport’s success adds to the emotions for Fittipaldi.

“It’s a huge amount of weight,” Fittipaldi said. “My family has a very successful history here in Indianapolis and the Indy 500; this legendary track. To get my first race win here in Indy NXT is very special. I’m just so happy and so stoked. I wouldn’t have gotten this win without my whole team here that supports me. They did a great job.”

Hughes (Andretti Global) ended up second, ahead of Nikita Johnson (Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR) in third. Tymek Kucharczyk (HMD Motorsports) finished fourth, ahead of Max Taylor (Andretti Global) in fifth.

The Race

Pole-sitter Alessandro De Tullio led the field to the green flag but locked up into Turn 1, handing the lead to third-place starter Hughes. De Tullio rejoined in eighth after using the escape road. Moments later, the combination of Max Garcia, Salvador de Alba and Myles Rowe coming together, leading to Garcia sliding off into the grass at Turn 5.

Hughes built up a lead of 0.5s over teammate Taylor by Lap 8, with Josh Pierson 1.1s back in third. On Lap 10, Fittipaldi, who started 10th, put the pressure on Pierson and made a successful pass on the front straightaway to take over third. However, a caution came out on Lap 11 due to rain.

The race was red flagged the following lap as a result and allowed teams to do controlled pit stops in order to switch from the slick tires to treaded rain rubber.

Following a five-minute break, the field was sent back out and logged the next few laps under caution. The restart came on Lap 16, with Hughes getting a strong jump on the field.

Meanwhile, Fittipaldi was able to pass Taylor to take over second prior to Turn 1. Kucharczyk, who restarted seventh, vaulted up to fifth. The race was switched to a timed race shortly after, with 18m left on the clock.

As the seconds ticked down, Hughes came under pressure from Fittipaldi, holding a 0.3s lead with 16m remaining.

Kucharczyk managed to get around Pierson to take over third. Taylor’s struggles since the restart persisted, fading to sixth as points leader Nikita Johnson squeezed by for fifth.

With less than 14 minutes to go, Johnson and Pierson went side-by-side in the third sector, with the former taking over the spot to secure fourth. Johnson then began to apply the pressure on Kucharczyk for third, with the latter holding serve with a strong defensive line.

Fittipaldi continued to shadow the rear wing of Hughes, even attempting an over-under move in Turn 1 with six minutes to go. Fittipaldi was able to stick the nose of his HMD machine in Turn 5 before finally pushing by Hughes to take the lead Turn 7.

Hughes tried to fight back and pulled alongside, but hit the exit curbing in Turn 12 to halt momentum. Hughes tried once more to fight back with an outside pass in Turn 7, but was unsuccessful.

Fittipaldi was able to gap Hughes by 1.7s before a full course yellow with under two minutes remaining after Bryce Aron was stopped on track.

The race never resumed, allowing Fittipaldi to take his first series win.