Hailie Deegan has voiced her concerns over the Indy NXT test schedule, stating that the unusually early timing of test sessions provides little benefit to teams. The critique came after Deegan participated in a mid-season test at the Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course on April 22, where she described the conditions as extreme and far from ideal for gathering meaningful data.
Before hitting the track in her No. 38 car, Hailie Deegan shared her experience through a behind-the-scenes VLOG on her YouTube channel. She openly discussed how the pre-dawn conditions at Mid-Ohio made the car’s handling unpredictable, noting,
The car feels completely different when the track and tires are so cold—it’s almost useless for actual preparation.
Despite the challenging environment, Indy NXT did not release official lap times from the test, adding to the frustration expressed by Deegan and her team.
Hailie Deegan, currently racing for HMD Motorsports, has shown visible progress in her Indy NXT performances. After finishing last in preseason tests, she improved significantly at her first oval test in Nashville on April 1, placing 15th out of 19 drivers. Her adaptability is also evident from her diverse racing background, having previously competed in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, NASCAR Truck Series, and NASCAR Xfinity Series before transitioning to open-wheel racing.
Her familiarity with the Mid-Ohio track, where she previously raced in the Truck Series and impressively climbed from 28th to finish 10th in 2022, did not ease the difficulties of last week’s test. Speaking candidly after the session, Hailie Deegan emphasized the need for changes in the test schedule to ensure drivers can prepare in conditions closer to race settings.
During the season opener at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Hailie Deegan secured a 14th-place finish out of 21 drivers. She now aims to continue her upward trajectory at the Grand Prix of Alabama, taking place from May 2 to 4. The ongoing discussion sparked by Deegan’s comments underscores the importance of optimizing testing for fairness and competition, hinting that rule changes could be on the horizon as more drivers and teams evaluate their preparation strategies for future Indy NXT seasons.
