Note: This continues a series of 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone team previews on INDYNXT.com. The season starts Sunday, March 1 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida (10 a.m. ET, FS1, FOX One, FOX One, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).

Starting Lineup: Nicholas Monteiro (No. 4 AJ Foyt Racing), Alessandro De Tullio (No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing)

2025 in Review: AJ Foyt Racing didn’t compete in INDY NXT by Firestone last season.

New for ’26: Everything. The team returns to INDY NXT competition for the first time since 2004. Alessandro De Tullio was announced Nov. 5 as the program’s first driver. The 19-year-old completed his first full season in the USF Pro 2000 Championship in 2025, finishing fourth in the overall standings. The previous year, De Tullio made six starts in the series while also capturing SKUSA Winter Series karting titles in the X30 Pro Senior and KA Senior classes. His background also includes a full season of competition in USF Juniors. Nicholas Monteiro (photo, bottom) was named as De Tullio’s teammate Nov. 14. The 20-year-old Brazilian-American made his INDY NXT debut with HMD Motorsports on Aug. 10 at Portland International Raceway. Monteiro competed in USF Pro 2000 from 2023-25.

Keep an Eye on This: De Tullio has proven particularly strong on street circuits, with two of his four USF Pro 2000 victories last season coming at St. Petersburg and Toronto. Whether that success translates to INDY NXT will be worth watching. He was third quickest in both sessions on the final day of January testing at Sebring International Raceway, a circuit that shares several characteristics with street courses. De Tullio also has victories at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Road America from his USF Juniors career, providing confidence on tracks he will revisit this season.

Little-Known Fact: The INDY NXT by Firestone program marks AJ Foyt Racing’s second foray into the developmental ranks. In 2002, A.J. Foyt IV won the first INDY NXT championship. Current ECR co-owner and driver Ed Carpenter followed in 2003, winning the Freedom 100 -- the series’ inaugural race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Nicholas Monteiro