The pathway to North America’s premier open-wheel racing series has a fresh, more youthful and energetic final level: INDY NXT by Firestone. INDY NXT will feature a new generation of global racing talent, competing vigorously for podiums and the opportunity to join the elite ranks of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
The presenting sponsor and Official Tire of INDY NXT will be Firestone, also the Official Tire Supplier and longtime partner of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. INDY NXT by Firestone will emphasize talent development, while extending racing’s reach and impact to a younger and emerging consumer audience.
The rebranded racing series, formerly known as Indy Lights, will stage 14 races in 2023, starting March 5 on the Streets of St. Petersburg and competing on a diverse set of ovals, road courses and street circuits.
The 2023 season will provide an additional opportunity for a reset and a new mission to emerge, guided by an ethos that aims to inspire and relate to Generation Z and the young talent piloting race cars.
After an expansion of teams and car count in 2022, the 2023 season is expected to build on that momentum, with the highest entry list for the developmental series since 2009.
The Dallara IL-15 is a state-of-the-art, single-seat, open-wheel chassis manufactured by Dallara Automobili. The chassis comes complete with paddle shifters, push-to-pass and safety components meeting or exceeding FIA specifications with INDYCAR standards. Safety enhancements include INDYCAR-style headrests and seats, along with a secondary pedal bulkhead (designed specifically for oval racing) and Zylon anti-intrusion side panels. The 2.0-liter I-4 turbocharged engine, built by Advanced Engine Research, is capable of running an entire season without a rebuild.
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Dallara IL-15 · Carbon composite monocoque · Composite bodywork · Anti-intrusion side panels · Front bulkhead structure for USA-specific oval racing circuits
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AER 2.0-Liter · 450 hp + 50 hp push-to-pass · Fly-by-wire throttle
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15-inch Firestone Tires Indy Lights · Motegi Racing forged Technomesh mono-block alloy wheels
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Cosworth Electronics with integrated dash and gear change paddles · Cosworth Data Logger linked via CAN to Life Racing ECU
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Ricardo 6-speed semi-automatic · Pneumatic paddle shift system
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2971 mm wheelbase · 1930 mm width · 635 kg
| Date | Circuit | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| March 05 | Streets of St. Petersburg | 1.8-mile street circuit |
| April 30 | Barber Motorsports Park | 2.3-mile road course |
| May 12-13 | Indianapolis Grand Prix Circuit | 2.439-mile road course |
| June 03-04 | The Raceway at Belle Isle Park | 2.35-mile street course |
| June 18 | Road America | 4.014-mile road course |
| July 02 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | 2.258-mile road course |
| July 22 | Iowa Speedway | 0.875-mile oval |
| August 06 | Streets of Nashville | 2.17-mile street circuit |
| August 27 | World Wide Technology Raceway | 1.25-mile oval |
| September 03 | Portland International Raceway | 1.964-mile road course |
| September 09-10 | WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca | 2.238-mile road course |
The mission of JHDD is to develop our own drivers internally by educating and passing down all of our knowledge to help the drivers perform to the very best of their ability.
Our job is to give the drivers all the tools, assets and information to win. If we are able to take a young driver and teach them the correct driving techniques, racecraft and mindset from the beginning, all while building their confidence, maintaining a consistent message and sense of continuity, the driver will be rewarded with results and championships.
Who better to teach this than Team Principal, Jay Howard—former Road to Indy champion, INDYCAR driver and now championship-winning team owner—who has the experience, knows exactly what it takes and how to WIN.
