Indy NXT heading to Miami International Autodrome for testing

The Indy NXT series has solidified next year’s group and open testing schedule that will hold six official gatherings for its eight entrants and 24 cars.

Group tests involve sharing the track with at least one other series and the use of sessions to alternate between those series; open tests provide NXT drivers with exclusive use of the track throughout the day. Group and open tests are organized by NXT; private test days arranged by teams are not permitted.

Among the highlights, IndyCar’s top development series will launch its preseason running in Florida with a two-day group run on Sebring’s short course across January 19-20 and return to the stand and make its first visit to the Miami International Autodrome, home of the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, for two days of preparatory action across February 22-23.

The Sunday-Monday Miami group test takes place days before the start of the IndyCar and NXT seasons at St. Petersburg Feb. 27-March 1, and the rest of the tests fall within the active NXT championship.

After Miami, the series’ next gathering is for a single-day open oval test at Nashville Speedway on Thursday, April 2, and less than two weeks later, teams will reconvene for a two-day group road course test at Mid-Ohio across April 14-15.

One week after the stop in Ohio, NXT drivers will spend Wednesday, April 22, on the Illinois oval at World Wide Technology Raceway for an open test, and then it’s a two-month pause until the last organized test within the season as teams head to Wisconsin for the Tuesday, June 23, open test at the Milwaukee Mile.

NXT’s competition calendar is comprised of 17 races with a heavy emphasis on doubleheaders – 10 road and street course events will use the twin-race format – which concludes at the September 5-6 doubleheader in Monterey at Laguna Seca.