IndyCar’s primary support series is set to have its largest grid since 2009 next year, its second season as Indy NXT. With 22 cars solidly on our radar for 2024, here’s Feeder Series’ rundown of who we think will end up where.

By Jeroen Demmendaal

Already in September, paddock chatter during the Indy NXT season finale at Laguna Seca indicated that the grid would continue to grow heading into 2024. A few weeks ago, we did the rounds again and further solidified those early rumours. Fourteen drivers have been formally announced thus far, but plenty more will join the fray in the coming weeks and months.

As things stand now, Feeder Series expects 22 cars on track in St Petersburg come March, and more are possible under the most optimistic scenario. Let’s run down the field and tell you what we’ve learned so far. Standard silly season disclaimer: final results may vary.

HMD Motorsports

What do we know?

As if having eight cars in 2023 wasn’t enough, HMD Motorsports is doubling down for 2024 and aiming to field an astonishing ten cars next season. So far, the team has announced seven drivers. Nolan Siegel, Reece Gold, Josh Pierson and Christian Bogle all stay on after their 2023 campaigns with HMD. 

Meanwhile, Jonathan Browne and Callum Hedge provide fresh blood for 2024 as they step up from USF Pro 2000 and Formula Regional Americas respectively. Hedge has received special dispensation from Honda Performance Development to use his FR Americas drivers’ champion scholarship for a transfer to Indy NXT.

It’s worth noting that both Browne and Hedge completed their first testing miles in a NXT car with other teams but eventually opted to sign with HMD – more on that later. The seventh driver confirmed so far is arguably the team’s most exciting prospect, as USF Pro 2000 champion Myles Rowe replaces Ernie Francis Jr in the Force Indy–branded car.

What have we heard?

That leaves three seats left to announce, two of which we’re pretty confident have been assigned already. We fully expect Brazilian Caio Collet to be confirmed in one of the remaining cars after the F3 race winner and former Alpine junior left a great impression in two test outings. Dutchman Niels Koolen is also set to join the team, having found the budget to make the switch from FRECA.

The tenth car is more of a question mark and will likely be decided by budget as well as availability. Former F3 driver Kaylen Frederick and USF Pro 2000 ace Michael d’Orlando are on HMD’s radar and tested with the team earlier this year. Jagger Jones and Josh Green are other, less likely candidates. Also, don’t be surprised if the tenth car ends up being shared by multiple drivers.

Andretti Global

What do we know?

On paper, everything looks hunky-dory for the rebranded Andretti Global. It has announced four drivers and the team is ready for another championship run. Louis Foster, Jamie Chadwick and James Roe all return for a second year, while 20-year-old American Bryce Aron returns home after a few years in GB3 and Euroformula Open.

What have we heard?

Based on what we’ve been told through the grapevine, things have been a lot rockier behind the scenes. As we reported in our previous silly season piece in October, Andretti is looking at a closer collaboration with Cape Motorsports for the 2024 season. So far, so sensible.

Things became more complicated, however, when the partnership talks moved to drivers and plans to loan out drivers from the Andretti stable to Cape. We understand that faced with the possibility of a loan move for 2024, Chadwick’s team put their feet down, insisted on a drive with the Andretti mothership and apparently won that battle of wits.

That left Andretti with two more drivers on its books in the form of Hedge and Salvador de Alba. Rather than agreeing to a loan move to Cape, Hedge reportedly backed out of his deal with Andretti and signed with HMD instead. As for De Alba – well, read on.

Cape Motorsports

What do we know?

While Cape’s partnership with Andretti has yet to be officially announced, we understand it will affect the team’s driver line-up. Formally, however, everything is open at Cape, which is looking to improve on a tough rookie year in the series.

What have we heard?

Reportedly, Salvador de Alba found out he would not race at Andretti when his management noticed his name wasn’t on the newly wrapped team trailer. Like Hedge and Chadwick, he has been looking at other options, but it seems very likely that the Mexican driver will have to settle for a seat at Cape in 2024.

As for his teammate, a likely option is Brazil’s Kiko Porto. We know the 2023 USF Pro runner-up was also under consideration at HMD but is struggling to secure a full budget. With that in mind, Cape is a likely destination for Porto, with Abel Motorsports another option.

Juncos Hollinger Racing

What do we know?

Formally, we know nothing. Juncos Hollinger has two cars, but the merry-go-round of drivers that featured in 2023 for the team is unlikely to return.

What have we heard?

Informally, all signs point to an Indy NXT debut with JHR for Lindsay Brewer in 2024. She has tested several times with the team, and while she has been several seconds off the pace, the 26-year-old from Colorado seems unfazed by the challenge and is able to bring the sizeable budget requested by the team.

Initially we wondered whether the return of Antonio Serravalle at IMS and Barber was just a way for JHR to fill a testing seat, but in recent weeks we’ve heard several noises that the Canadian might actually get a race seat. If Juncos does end up with a Brewer-Serravalle pairing for 2024, it’s safe to say that the team has its work cut out.

Abel Motorsports

What do we know?

Jacob Abel returns for a third year in the series, and if 2023 was anything to go by, he should be a title challenger. At least one teammate has been announced in the form of USF Pro 2000 graduate Yuven Sundaramoorthy, who ran four races for the team last year.

What have we heard?

The Abel team have ambition and is planning to field at least three cars in 2024. Earlier whispers even spoke of four cars, but that was before Jonathan Browne decided to sign with HMD instead of with Abel.

Here too, Kiko Porto is a name that keeps popping up because Abel is not one of the most expensive teams in the series. Colin Kaminsky already demonstrated his abilities in some fine drives for Abel during 2023, and the team appreciates him. 

Abel may also be a landing spot for Michael d’Orlando or Jordan Missig. Like Porto and Kaminsky, both have their challenges in terms of budget but are very keen to move up to Indy NXT from USF Pro 2000.

Miller Vinatieri Motorsport

What do we know?

The team spent the past few years in USF Pro 2000 as a family operation supporting Jack William Miller, the son of former Indy Racing League driver Jack Miller. MVM has now bought an Indy NXT car for young Jack and is moving up to the next level. The team has received some help from Abel Motorsport in building up its car and getting it ready.

Header photo credit: Chris Owens