Max Taylor is putting on a masterclass at the season opener in St. Petersburg. After topping both practice sessions, the 18-year-old Connecticut native punctuated his perfect weekend by snagging his first career INDY NXT by Firestone pole position on Saturday.
Driving the No. 28 Andretti Global entry—the same chassis Dennis Hauger piloted to the 2025 title—Taylor clocked a blistering 1:04.8887 on his final lap.
Key Highlights
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Hometown Hero: Rookie Nikita Johnson will start on the front row for his home race after leading the first qualifying group.
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Andretti Dominance: The team’s heavy investment in development paid off, nearly sweeping the top two rows.
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Qualifying Chaos: Not everyone escaped the tight 1.8-mile street circuit unscathed. Enzo Fittipaldi clipped the wall and will start dead last (24th), while Matteo Nannini suffered heavy front-end damage after hitting the barrier twice, relegating him to 23rd.
“First pole position, so I’m over the moon,” Taylor said. “P1 every session this weekend so far… I love this car, love this track, and I love my team.”
How to Watch
The 45-lap season opener kicks off tomorrow, Sunday, at 10 a.m. ET. You can catch the action on FS1, the FOX Sports app, or the INDYCAR Radio Network.
St. Pete Indy NXT Starting Grid
Qualifying: February 28, 2026; Race: March 1, 2026
