AJ Foyt Racing is teaming up with rising talent Alessandro De Tullio as he prepares to make his INDY NXT by Firestone debut in 2026. (Photo courtesy of AJ Foyt Racing)

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio

Teen-ager Alessandro De Tullio will make his INDY NXT by Firestone debut in 2026 wheeling A.J. Foyt Racing’s signature No. 14 car.

Addition of the 19-year-old Italian-American is a significant marker in Foyt Racing’s recently launched commitment to developing the next generation of NTT IndyCar Series talent. The 17-race schedule includes a visit to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex for the inaugural INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington street race on Sunday, March 15.

“This is an amazing opportunity to take the next step in my career with such a respected and historic team,” De Tullio said in a team news release. “I’ve learned a lot, especially last year in USF Pro 2000, and I’m ready to apply that experience as I continue pushing myself to improve. I can’t wait to get started with the team and show what we can accomplish together.”

De Tullio’s résumé reflects a consistent record of success and growth throughout the open-wheel development ranks. In 2025 De Tullio completed his first full season in the USF Pro 2000 Championship, finishing fourth in the overall standings for Turn 3 Motorsport. The previous year, De Tullio made six starts in the same series while also capturing SKUSA Winter Series titles in both X30 Pro Senior and KA Senior classes. De Tullio’s background also includes a full season of competition in USF Juniors.

“Alessandro has shown impressive pace and determination throughout his career so far,” Foyt Racing Team President Larry Foyt said. “He’s proven he can adapt quickly and deliver results, which is exactly what we look for in a young driver. We’re excited to have him join the A.J. Foyt Racing family and look forward to helping him develop in INDY NXT.”

Foyt Racing marked a successful return to INDYCAR’s developmental series last week with De Tullio during the annual Chris Griffis Memorial Test on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course. The native of Miami placed fifth overall among 24 drivers turning laps on the 2.439-mile/14-turn layout with a top circuit of 1-minute, 15.0406-seconds/117.009 mph.

De Tullio was paired with fellow-series rookie Nicholas Monteiro at IMS for the organization founded by open-wheel icon A.J. Foyt Jr. of Houston. A 20-year-old native of Pembroke Pines, Fla., Monteiro is a Brazilian-American who also drove for Turn 3 Motorsport in the 2025 USF Pro 2000 Championship. Monteiro placed 18^th overall with a best lap of 1:15.7210/115.957 mph. The Foyt drivers combined for 137 laps, with Monteiro turning 75.

Sebastian Murray, an 18-year-old native of Scotland, paced the test with a lap in 1-minute, 14.5035-seconds/117.852 mph after 86 laps in the No. 27 Andretti Global car. Murray finished 13th in the series standings in 2025 as a rookie for Andretti Cape INDY NXT before moving to the Andretti team for 2026.

American-born series veterans and Andretti newcomers Max Taylor and Josh Pierson placed second and third, respectively. Taylor’s best lap was 1:14.6366/117.642 mph in the No. 28 car, while Pierson’s top lap was 1:14.6674/117.593 mph in the No. 29 machine. Taylor was quickest overall in the morning session at 1:15.0926. Taylor is an 18-year-old from Greenwich, Conn., while Pierson is a 19-year-old native of Portland, Ore.

Nikita Johnson was fourth overall and quickest rookie, turning a best lap of 1:14.8849/117.252 mph in the No. 21 Cape Motorsports car. The USF2000 and USF Pro 2000 series runner-up, Johnson made three INDY NXT starts early in the 2025 season but will remain eligible for Rookie of the Year honors in 2026. Johnson is a 17-year-old native of St. Petersburg, Fla.

Based in Waller, Texas, Foyt Racing is fielding a two-car INDY NXT team in a strategic alliance with HMD Motorsports of Brownsburg, Ind. The collaboration between Foyt Racing and HMD Motorsports will strengthen the connection for open-wheel driver and team crew personnel looking to advance from INDY NXT into the premier NTT IndyCar Series.

De Tullio is scheduled to participate in all official series tests leading up to the start of the season. He will make his INDY NXT by Firestone debut in the 2026 season-opener in St. Petersburg, Fla., from Feb. 27–March 1.

Penske Entertainment Corp. and Gainbridge, an insurtech subsidiary of Group 1001 Insurance Holdings, LLC (“Group 1001”) empowering consumers to take control of their financial future, have announced a multiyear sponsorship agreement. Gainbridge will continue to serve as presenting sponsor of the Indianapolis 500, the world’s largest single-day spectator sporting event.

The extension solidifies Gainbridge’s commitment to racing. “Partnering with the Indianapolis 500 is a natural fit for Gainbridge, reflecting our shared commitment to success, innovation and making every second count,” said Dan Towriss, Group 1001 president/CEO. “The Indianapolis 500 holds special significance to Hoosiers and fans across the world. We’re excited for this next chapter in our partnership and honored to celebrate the skilled drivers and the dedicated fans.”

Since Gainbridge began its sponsorship in 2019, the Indianapolis 500 logo has celebrated the iconography of the 500-Mile Race. Icon Series logos have featured the famed yard of bricks, the checkered flag, the Pagoda, the winner’s wreath, the famed 2.5-mile oval, Victory Podium and the green flag.

Unveiled during the 2026 Indy 500 ticket renewal window, the 2026 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge logo has a patriotic flair to celebrate the nation’s military. This design aligns with the timing of the storied event, held annually during Memorial Day weekend, and the 250th birthday of the United States.

“Our partnership with Gainbridge aligns two brands with a shared passion for growth and world-class customer experience,” said Mark Miles, Penske Entertainment president/CEO. “Renewing this relationship with a multiyear agreement showcases the strength and continued relevance of the Indy 500, an iconic event with the perfect entitlement partner to fuel a momentous future.”

The 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, 2026. An historic grandstand sellout of the 2025 Indy 500 allowed a rare lifting of the blackout of local broadcast coverage on FOX Sports.

Fans can visit IMS.com for tickets and more information about the 110th Indianapolis 500.

Final 2025 NTT IndyCar Series Point Standings _ 1, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, 711; 2, Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren, 515; 3, Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, 452; 4, Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global, 433; 5, Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, 431; 6, Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, 372; 7, Colton Herta, Andretti Global, 372; 8, Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing, 364; 9, Will Power, Team Penske, 357; 10, Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske, 356;

11, David Malukas, A.J. Foyt Racing, 318; 12, Josef Newgarden, Team Penske, 316; 13, Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing, 313; 14, Rinus VeeKay, Dale Coyne Racing, 305; 15, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing, 297; 16, Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Racing, 293; 17, Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing, 282; 18, Conor Daly, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 268; 19, Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 260; 20, Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global, 234;

21, Callum Ilott, PREMA Racing, 218; 22, Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren, 213; 23, Louis Foster, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 213; 24, Robert Shwartzman, PREMA Racing, 211; 25, Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 181; 26, Devlin DeFrancesco, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 171; 27, Jacob Abel, Dale Coyne Racing, 123; 28, Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 36; 29, Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing, 20; 30, Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing, 16;

31, Jack Harvey, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports, 12; 32, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports, 10; 33, Kyle Larson, Arrow McLaren with Henrick Motorsports, 6; 34, Marco Andretti, Andretti Herta with Marco & Curb-Agajanian, 5.

2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES RACE WINNERS

Sunday, March 2 _ Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, March 23 _The Thermal Club, Thermal, Calif.  (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, April 13 _ Streets of Long Beach, Calif. (Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global)

Sunday, May 4 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala. (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Saturday, May 10 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, May 25 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oval (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, June 1 _ Streets of Detroit (Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global)

Sunday, June 15 _ World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill. (Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global)

Sunday, June 22 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis. (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, July 6 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington (Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Saturday, July 12 _ Iowa Speedway, Newton, Race 1 (Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren)

Sunday, July 13 _ Iowa Speedway, Newton, Race 2 (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, July 20 _ Streets of Toronto, Canada (Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren)

Sunday, July 27 _ WeatherTech Raceway, Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif. (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, Aug. 10 _ Portland (Ore.) International Raceway (Will Power, Team Penske)

Sunday, Aug. 24 _ The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wis. (Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing)

Sunday, Aug. 31 _ Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn. (Josef Newgarden, Team Penske)

2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES SCHEDULE

Sunday, March 1 _ Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.

Saturday, March 7 _ Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Ariz.

Sunday, March 15 _ Streets of Arlington, Texas

Sunday, March 29 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala.

Sunday, April 19 _ Streets of Long Beach, Calif.

Saturday, May 9 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course

Sunday, May 24 _ 110^th Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oval

Sunday, May 31 _ Streets of Detroit

Sunday, June 7 _ World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill.

Sunday, June 21 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.

Sunday, July 5 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio

Sunday, July 19 _ Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn.

Sunday, Aug. 9 _ Portland (Ore.) International Raceway

Sunday, Aug. 16 _ Streets of Markham, Canada

Saturday, Aug. 29 _ The Milwaukee Mile Race 1, West Allis, Wis.

Sunday, Aug. 30 _ The Milwaukee Mile Race 2, West Allis, Wis.

Sunday, Sept. 6 _ WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif.

Note _ All races to be televised by FOX Sports

2026 INDYCAR NXT BY FIRESTONE SCHEDULE

Sunday, March 1 _ Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.

Sunday, March 15 _ Streets of Arlington, Texas

Saturday, March 28 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala., Race 1

Sunday, March 29 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala., Race 2

Friday, May 8 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course Race 1

Saturday, May 9 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course Race 2

Sunday, May 31 _ Streets of Detroit

Sunday, June 7 _ World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill.

Saturday, June 20 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis., Race 1

Sunday, June 21 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis., Race 2

Saturday, July 4 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio, Race 1

Sunday, July 5 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio, Race 2

Sunday, July 19 _ Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn.

Sunday, Aug. 9 _ Portland (Ore.) International Raceway

Sunday, Aug. 30 _ The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wis.

Saturday, Sept. 5 _ Weather Tech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif., Race 1

Sunday, Sept. 6 _ Weather Tech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif., Race 2