HAILIE DEEGAN Calls Out Indy NXT’s ‘Brutal’ Early Morning Test Schedule

May 1, 2025

by Yash Kotak // from www.sportskeeda.com

• HAILIE DEEGAN didn’t hold back about Indy NXT’s scheduling choices, calling out the series for starting tests at brutal early hours when cold conditions make meaningful data collection nearly impossible. The HMD Motorsports driver pointed out what we’ve all been thinking – why start testing when track temps and tire grip are so compromised that teams can’t actually learn anything useful?
• Her criticism comes with credibility earned through steady improvement – DEEGAN has climbed from dead last in preseason testing to 15th out of 19 drivers at her first oval test at Nashville. That’s the kind of progress that gives weight to her technical observations about when and how testing should happen.
• The 23-year-old brings a unique perspective to Mid-Ohio, having raced there twice in NASCAR Trucks with impressive results including an 18-position gain to finish 10th in 2022. Her comparison between stock car and open-wheel experiences at the same track offers valuable insight into how different racing disciplines approach the same challenges.

hmd motorsports, indy nxt, mid-ohio sportscar course, road course