Indy NXT veteran Pierson set for Indy road course evaluation test

Indy NXT veteran Josh Pierson will perform his IndyCar licensing approval test on Tuesday at the Indianapolis road course.

RACER previously understood the test was set for the end of the month at Barber Motorsports Park, but clarification was provided to confirm the 20-year-old Oregonian will conduct a special evaluation test in AJ Foyt Racing’s No. 4 Chevy on Tuesday.

The test is expected to be presided over by an array of IndyCar officials from IndyCar Officiating Inc., and is expected to include Scot Elkins, its managing director of officiating, plus race director Kyle Novak, and one or more veteran IndyCar drivers to observe and help assess Pierson’s readiness to compete in IndyCar with Foyt.

Among the array of criteria to meet, Pierson will be assessed on his pace and car control in the No. 4 Chevy, and communication with all parties at the test. No specific timetable is believed to exist for providing Pierson and the Foyt team with an answer on licensing approval, but a post-test review and final assessment should be offered in timely manner.

With one of the four remaining IndyCar seats to fill for 2027, the Foyt team is facing an urgent need to know if Pierson and his sizable budget will be available to fill the No. 4 car alongside new signing Dennis Hauger in the No. 14 Chevy, or if Foyt will need to seek other funded drivers to potentially take the seat.

Pierson placed sixth in the 2025 Indy NXT championship with HMD Motorsports — his second full season in the series after doing a partial run in 2023 with the team — and took 11th for Andretti Global in 2026 after claiming three podiums, two poles, and his first victory, which came at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Race 1.