ABEL Motorsports fields one of the most age-diverse driver lineups in INDY NXT by Firestone this season, blending seasoned veterans with one of the youngest competitors in the paddock.

Three of its four drivers are at least 25 or older: 25-year-old Myles Rowe, 26-year-old Colin Kaminsky and 27-year-old Jordan Missig. Their collective experience provides a different perspective in a series often dominated by teenagers.

“It’s nice because you’re just more of an adult,” Kaminsky said. “I think the perspective is massively different. When you show up as young as some of these kids, the demand and pressure can be intense. Being a little older, you just have a better perspective on life.

“I think that maturity definitely helps.”

The ages of Rowe, Kaminsky and Missig contrast with ABEL’s fourth driver, 16-year-old rookie Max Garcia (photo, top), who enters the season as the youngest driver in the series. Garcia won the USF 2000 and USF Pro 2000 championships the last two seasons.

Colin Kaminsky

“It’s so funny,” said Kaminsky (photo, above). “We’ve all had a group chat for years. I used to give him crap (Garcia) and call him ’09,’ the year he was born. He’s so young. It’s really funny to be teammates now. He definitely keeps us young with his references.”

Missig and Rowe echoed the sentiment, appreciating how Garcia balances the team dynamic and is a good addition because of his skill and energy.

“Max is definitely the odd one out, but he's getting along very, very well,” Rowe said. “I think he keeps us feeling younger than we might without him. It'll be a fun dynamic throughout the whole season, and we're going to have a good time with it.”

Being surrounded by experienced teammates has accelerated Garcia’s learning curve and helped him transition into INDY NXT competition.

“It’s really cool,” Garcia said. “I kind of learn what it’s like to be an adult from them. They’ve all been in INDY NXT for a few years, so I’m just trying to soak up everything.”

Fittipaldi Chasing Championship

Enzo Fittipaldi carries one of the most recognizable names in American open-wheel racing. His grandfather, Emerson Fittipaldi, is a 1989 INDYCAR SERIES champion and 22-time race winner, including victories in the Indianapolis 500 in 1989 and 1993.

At 24, Enzo, who is also brother to 26-race INDYCAR SERIES starter Pietro Fittipaldi, aims to follow that path. While Emerson also captured two FIA Formula One championships, Enzo built a successful junior career in Europe by winning races in Formula 3 and Formula 2 before turning his focus to INDY NXT by Firestone this season.

Fittipaldi drives for HMD Motorsports in 2026 and began his transition to the series during the annual Chris Griffis Memorial Test in October on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. The outing served as an early learning experience as he adjusted to the car.

Since then, momentum followed. Fittipaldi participated in a full-field test at Barber Motorsports Park in November and a two-day test at Sebring International Raceway last month, improving with each session.

“I feel like every time we've been to a track, or every run I've done, I've been continuously getting stronger,” Fittipaldi said. “IMS was a big learning curve, but then we went to Barber and were leading most of the day. At Sebring, I feel like we dominated both days there. I think the trend is looking strong.”

Fittipaldi finished inside the top five of the timing charts at the Barber test and ranked in the top two during all four sessions at Sebring. He believes a championship is possible and a promotion to the INDYCAR SERIES next year.

That’s why he chose the American path rather than staying in Europe. Reaching the NTT INDYCAR SERIES has always been a goal.

“I’m focused on being as prepared as possible,” he said. “In INDY NXT, consistency is crucial. A DNF (did not finish) is a big loss, so the goal is to keep taking points and be in championship contention at the end of the season.”

Legends Inspire Next Generation

Scott Dixon and Will Power are pillars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Between them, they own eight championships and rank in the top five on the all-time wins list, with Dixon’s 59 victories and Power’s 45 underscoring careers built on longevity and sustained excellence.

That success has made them role models for the next generation, including two drivers competing in INDY NXT by Firestone.

Carson Etter

Carson Etter, a native of Villa Park, California, makes his INDY NXT debut in 2026, driving the No. 11 GATC Health car for Chip Ganassi Racing. Etter (photo, above) completed his rookie USF2000 season in 2024 with four top-10 finishes. He began his racing career in 2017 in off-road truck competition.

Six-time INDYCAR SERIES champion Dixon is Etter’s racing hero, making the opportunity to join Ganassi’s organization especially impactful.

“I try to model what I do after him,” Etter said of Dixon. “He’s my racing idol. It’s very special to be on the same team as him, and I think about it a lot.”

Second-year INDY NXT driver Lochie Hughes’ connection with fellow Australian Power dates to his USF Pro 2000 days, when Power offered advice on closing out Hughes’ 2024 championship run. That relationship continued last season while Hughes competed as an INDY NXT rookie with Andretti Global and Power drove for Team Penske.

Power’s move to Andretti Global this offseason after 17 seasons with Team Penske has only strengthened that bond, especially since each drives the No. 26 for the team – Hughes in INDY NXT and Power in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

“The access is just a lot easier,” Hughes said. “I know it feels easier talking to him (Power), as well, because it's not like there's a Penske barrier or anything like that. There’s not a different team kind of thing. I can almost be a bit more open with him, and hopefully him with me, with certain stuff.

“Being able to show him onboard footage, get his thoughts and learn from him day to day is something I’m really looking forward to.”

Odds and Ends

  • Etter races this season while also attending Arizona State University as a full-time student. “Getting my degree is pretty important to me, so it’s something I always grew up wanting to have,” Etter said. “I feel like it’s something everybody should have. I’m taking classes there and going step by step, hopefully earning my degree in the next couple of years.”
  • Garcia is a junior at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, a school that could soon boast champions at both the college and professional levels. Alumni Fernando Mendoza and his brother Alberto won the college football national championship last month with the Indiana Hoosiers, while Josh Jobe is a starting cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks and will face the New England Patriots in Sunday’s Super Bowl.
  • Josh Pierson joined Andretti Global after 37 starts with HMD Motorsports and believes improvement on ovals will be critical to his becoming a championship contender in 2026. “Definitely the ovals are very important,” Pierson said. “Consistency is what’s going to win championships, and the ovals are part of that. Especially qualifying, that’s a big challenge.” Pierson recorded 11 top-10 finishes in 14 starts last season, with two of his three non-top-10 results coming on ovals. He finished a career-best sixth in points.
  • Nicholas Monteiro mentioned he began racing at age 7 in karts and broke a finger the first time he got behind the wheel. Despite the early setback, Monteiro stuck with the process, driven by his passion for motorsports. He enters his rookie season with AJ Foyt Racing in INDY NXT by Firestone.
  • Alessandro de Tullio is teammates with Monteiro. Both cited their dads for the reason they’re racing. Neither of their fathers raced, but both enjoyed motorsports and passed that passion to their sons. De Tullio said his first memory of racing was his dad taking him to Montreal for an F1 race when he was younger.