Alex Powell was the second-quickest driver in the INDY NXT by Firestone driver evaluation test Sept. 21 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

The test on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course was open exclusively to drivers who had never driven an INDY NXT car and had completed a full season in one of the series’ approved feeder championships. The evaluation gave accomplished young drivers their first opportunity to experience INDY NXT machinery while allowing teams to assess potential candidates for full-season rides in 2027.

Jamaican-American Powell (photo, top), 19, made an immediate impression in his INDY NXT debut driving the No. 26 Andretti Global entry. His affinity for speed is hardly new.

Racing is part of Powell’s family background. His father, John Powell, is a veteran rally driver from Jamaica, while his mother was born in Colombia. Alex Powell was born in 2007 in Miami and began karting in 2015.

There is also a notable connection to track and field. Powell’s cousin is Asafa Powell, the retired Jamaican sprinter who twice set the 100-meter world record. Asafa Powell also was part of Jamaica’s gold-medal-winning 4x100-meter relay team at the 2016 Summer Olympics as a teammate to the legendary Usain Bolt.

“Speed is in the blood,” Powell said. “My dad did some racing himself. I started racing back in the Caribbean. My cousin is Asafa Powell. I’m trying to make my mark in the world of single-seaters.”

Powell moved to Italy at age 11 to pursue a career in European motorsports. He spent the ensuing years primarily racing in Europe, racing in Formula 4 series in Italy and the Middle East from 2003-05, before turning his attention to the United States this fall.

“We moved to Europe pretty early on in my karting career to pursue something over there,” Powell said. “And basically, been racing in Europe all that time until now, and we’re looking to come here.”

The INDY NXT new driver evaluation has become a key fixture on the series’ offseason calendar, bringing accomplished drivers from premier development series around the world to test INDY NXT machinery. Last year’s evaluation at Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Illinois, featured four FIA Formula 2 veterans, along with champions and race winners from several leading junior formula championships. Six of the 12 drivers who participated ultimately secured full-season seats for the 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone season.

The evaluation also gave teams an early opportunity to assess potential drivers before the official offseason testing program begins. Powell said the test wasn’t only about posting a quick lap, it was his first chance to experience both an INDY NXT car and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, two unfamiliar variables he had to learn simultaneously.

“This was super cool,” Powell said. “First time for me at Indianapolis, and, of course, with the car, as well. My experience was mostly in Europe, so to come here with something completely different, it was a lot of fun. I enjoyed it.”

Powell said the biggest adjustment was learning how the INDY NXT car delivered its power and responded to driver inputs compared to past cars he has raced.

“Braking was quite difficult,” Powell said. “I would say the car is very sensitive to my throttle and brake inputs, which is also quite nice. It’s a very driver’s car, let’s say.”

Alex Powell

The evaluation was as much about demonstrating what Powell (photo, above) could control as it was about outright pace. Every driver was adapting to the INDY NXT car, creating what Powell viewed as an opportunity to establish himself from the first session.

“I think it’s all about what you can bring to the table straight off the bat,” Powell said. “Everyone here is on a very similar level or playing field. Let’s say it’s the first day in the car for everyone. Of course, some of these guys have experience around this racetrack, but a lot of the European guys that came have never seen the racetrack.

“The most important part was just bringing my A-game, bringing my standards. So, that’s anytime I sit in the car, to make sure that I’m doing my stuff right. That’s the stuff that’s in my control, doing it to the best of my abilities. And I felt like I was able to do that pretty well.

“It’s not always about speed, but it’s always nice to be pretty quick.”