The annual Chris Griffis Memorial Test for INDY NXT by Firestone provided a fascinating range of philosophies between the 22 drivers testing Oct. 18 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

For the nine rookie drivers, Friday was the first opportunity of wrestling a 450-horsepower INDY NXT by Firestone machine, which lacks power steering and weighs 1,410-1,430 pounds without fuel and driver weight.

“It feels rapid compared to anything I’ve ever done before,” said Andretti Global’s Lochie Hughes, the 2024 USF Pro 2000 champion. “It’s so fast. Put the throttle down and your head just smashed against the back of the car, which is a cool feeling.”

Hughes signed with Andretti Global to drive the No. 26 entry in 2025. Friday was his first time in this machinery, allowing him to build confidence with the higher horsepower behind the wheel.

“Just getting comfortable with it,” he said. “Just taking a bit like you touch-the-throttle-type thing, and it wants to snap around. It’s just sort of a different type of feeling. To start the session off in the top five in my first time in the car is pretty good. It’s a good start. It’s just so cool driving these things. I’ve been watching them for a long time, so sitting in them it’s a cool feeling.”

Fellow rookie teammate Dennis Hauger had a similar feeling. Hauger noticed the speed difference in his maiden opportunity in INDY NXT machinery despite being a 2021 FIA Formula 3 champion and scoring five wins in FIA Formula 2.

“The top speed and in terms of power, it's such a different way of driving the car,” he said. “Taking it step by step.”

HMD Motorsports rookie Hailie Deegan has raced in several championships, including the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS), NASCAR K&N Pro Series, ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR Truck Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. All had windshields. The INDY NXT by Firestone cars have open cockpits, with a halo for driver protection.

“It's definitely odd,” she said. “I could tell you that it's different not having a windshield. That’s something when you race at Daytona, you don't think about. On this side of things, you feel like your head's going to rip off. That’s something that I'm definitely having to get used to. Not having the windshield and being able to really feel everything is unique.”

For the 13 veterans testing, the viewpoint in attacking the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course was to reinforce what they know.

“A little bit of a different program inside the team, with the drivers, like new drivers, or drivers coming for the second year like me,” said HMD Motorsports’ Caio Collet, the 2024 Rookie of the Year. “On our side, we are just focused on developing a little bit more the car.”

Sophomore Myles Rowe was quickest Friday in his first opportunity with ABEL Motorsports. Rowe competed in his rookie season with HMD Motorsports.

“You have a whole year's worth of experience compared to none at this point,” he said. “It's just about enhancing your knowledge, instead of applying new knowledge.”

IMS Inspires Rookies Hauger, Deegan

Neither Hauger, from Norway, nor Deegan, from Southern California, had stepped inside Indianapolis Motor Speedway before Friday’s test.

“This is a track you see growing up and always want to go here,” Hauger said. “Even just to watch would be great, and now I'm here driving. It’s, for sure, a dream come true.”

Hauger completed 75 laps Friday with the second-quickest time, 1 minute, 15.3285 seconds.

Deegan was in awe driving through the famed IMS tunnel, knowing she would turn laps around the road course Friday.

“I've never raced here before and never even been to the facility,” Deegan said. “So really got to check it all out, really enjoyed seeing everything.”

The biggest learning curve for Deegan was learning the difference between controls on the steering wheel of her INDY NXT machinery compared to other race cars she has driven in the past.

“I was a little overwhelmed at first going out,” she said. “So, I'm like, ‘OK, pit road button.’ And then there's these lights flashing at me, warning alarms. And I'm like, ‘I need to bypass those real quick.’ And then looking at shift light, there’s just a lot going on.

“I feel after the second session, I figured out what is important or don't worry about that, bypass that. So, I'm getting the hang of it.”

New Number for Collet

Collet drove the No. 23 entry for HMD Motorsports compared to No. 18 as a rookie. The number change is here to stay.

“The new number is because when I started go karts, my number was 23,” Collet said. “And then last year, because I was the last one to sign (with the team), I couldn't pick the 23. But this year, because I was the first one (to sign), I said, ‘I want 23 back.’”

Collet was sixth quickest Friday but elected to work on race setups. He qualified second for both IMS races last May but finished 19th and third, respectively.

Odds and Ends

• The last three INDY NXT by Firestone champions, Linus Lundqvist (2022), Christian Rasmussen (2023) and Louis Foster (2024), were sophomore drivers in the series when they won the title. Half of the 22 drivers competing in the Chris Griffis Memorial Test Friday are listed as second-year competitors: Ricardo Escotto (Andretti Cape INDY NXT), Salvador de Alba Jr. (Andretti Global), Jack William Miller (Miller Vinatieri Motorsports), Nolan Allaer, Bryce Aron, Christian Brooks and 2024 Rookie of the Year Collet (HMD Motorsports) and Callum Hedge, Yuven Sundaramoorthy, Jordan Missig and Rowe (ABEL Motorsports).

• James Roe with Andretti Global is the seasoned veteran in the series. Named Wednesday to return to the No. 29 entry, Roe has one pole, three top-three finishes, nine top fives and 21 top 10’s in 39 starts. Josh Pierson, who on Sept. 25 was announced to return to HMD Motorsports, has 23 career starts with a best finish of sixth in 2023 at Iowa Speedway.

• Foster and Jacob Abel turned the fastest times in last year’s Griffis test. The duo finished 1-2 in points in the 2024 season. The tandem also swept the May 10-11 INDY NXT by Firestone doubleheader weekend, with Abel victorious in Race 1 and Foster a day later. That’s a great sign for Rowe and Hauger, who were 1-2 Friday.