Enzo Fittipaldi Tops Open Test in First Trip to Milwaukee Mile

MILWAUKEE (Tuesday, June 23, 2026) – Enzo Fittipaldi felt right at home at Milwaukee Mile after his first visit to the fabled track Tuesday, leading a busy INDY NXT by Firestone Open Test.

Fittipaldi’s top lap was 152.012 mph in the No. 67 HMD Motorsports car as he and 23 other drivers prepared for the INDYCAR development series race Sunday, Aug. 30 on the 1.015-mile oval. Rookie Fittipaldi, grandson of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi, is third in series points and has two victories this season.

“It was a really cool track to drive,” Fittipaldi said. “It’s very different to the other ovals that I’ve tested on, Nashville and Gateway. It just feels like two high-speed corners, and there’s not much banking, so there’s a lot you can do in your driving to extract the most from the car and the setup. So, it’s a really fun track.”

There were two surprises right behind Fittipaldi on the time sheet. Veteran Niels Koolen, 15th in points, was second at 151.779 in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing entry. His CGR teammate and fellow veteran James Roe, 21st in points, ended up third at 151.559 in the team’s No. 8 car.

Alessandro de Tullio, who leads the series with seven poles in 10 races this season, clocked in fourth at 151.494 in the No. 14 AJ Foyt Enterprises car. Rookie Jack Beeton rounded out the top five at 151.433 in the No. 45 HMD Motorsports machine.

There were two incidents with contact. In the morning, series veteran and three-time oval-race winner Myles Rowe hit the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2 with his No. 99 Abel Motorsports with Force Indy car. In the afternoon, rookie Carson Etter brushed the SAFER Barrier and continued in his No. 11 Chip Ganassi Racing entry. Neither driver was hurt.

Last year’s race was 90 laps on the historic oval, and every driver except Rowe easily exceeded that distance in the test. Fifteen drivers turned more than 200 laps, led by Lochie Hughes at 266 in the No. 26 Andretti Global car.

The next INDY NXT by Firestone event is a doubleheader July 4-5 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Are you a die-hard NASCAR fan? Follow every lap, every pit stop, every storyline? We're looking for fellow enthusiasts to share insights, race recaps, hot takes, or behind-the-scenes knowledge with our readers. Click Here to apply!

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SpeedwayMedia.com

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

SM SPEEDWAY SHOTS

Latest articles

RCR Race Preview: Darlington Raceway

In 154 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Darlington Raceway, Richard Childress Racing has earned eight wins, all by Dale Earnhardt.

Jason Kitzmiller Takes Top-10 ARCA Streak to DuQuoin State Fairgrounds

Jason Kitzmiller is armed with momentum for his return to the DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds in Sunday night’s Audubon Park 100.

JBS EQUIPMENT NHRA PRO MOD SERIES RESUMES CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE AT THE BIG GO IN...

After its summer break, the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports jumps right back into its Road to the Championship playoffs in a major way

Ryan Preece Makes Keyboard Warriors Eat Their Words

It’s been Ryan Preece vs. the world for much of 2026.

Best New Zealand Online Casinos