Andretti Drivers Sweep Top 3 Spots in St. Pete Practice

Max Taylor leads 1-2-3 finish for Andretti Global in opening INDY NXT session

Feb. 27, 2026 at 7:34pm

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Max Taylor, driving for Andretti Global, topped the opening practice session of the 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone season at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, leading a 1-2-3 sweep for his team. Taylor, a Connecticut native entering his first full INDY NXT campaign, posted the fastest lap of 1:05.0852, followed by series veteran Josh Pierson and second-year driver Seb Murray, also of Andretti Global.

Why it matters

Andretti Global has been a dominant force in the INDY NXT development series, and this practice session sweep underscores their strength heading into the new season. Taylor's performance also validates his potential after strong showings in preseason testing, setting up an intriguing battle for the 2026 INDY NXT championship.

The details

Taylor, who made six INDY NXT starts in 2025 while racing full-time in USF Pro 2000, led the INDY NXT Group Test last November and was among the fastest drivers in preseason testing. In Friday's opening practice, he edged out Andretti newcomer Josh Pierson and second-year driver Seb Murray to complete the team's 1-2-3 finish. The session was slowed by two red flags, with rookie Jack Beeton and Lochie Hughes, the top returning driver in the series, both making contact with the barriers.

  • The 45-minute practice session took place on Friday, February 27, 2026.
  • Another practice is scheduled for 8:35 a.m. ET on Saturday, February 28, followed by qualifying at 3:45 p.m. ET.
  • The 45-lap race is set to start at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday, March 1.

The players

Max Taylor

A Connecticut native entering his first full season in the INDY NXT by Firestone development series, Taylor topped the opening practice session with a best lap of 1:05.0852 in the No. 28 Susan G. Komen entry fielded by Andretti Global.

Josh Pierson

A series veteran and newcomer to Andretti Global, Pierson was second fastest in the opening practice with a best lap of 1:05.5358 in the No. 29 Starchive Andretti entry.

Seb Murray

A second-year INDY NXT driver, Murray completed Andretti Global's sweep of the top three spots with a best time of 1:05.5368 in the No. 27 Prosperity entry.

Jack Beeton

A rookie driver, Beeton backed his No. 45 HMD Motorsports car into the wall in Turn 10, causing damage but allowing him to drive to the pits for repairs.

Lochie Hughes

The top returning driver in the INDY NXT series this season, Hughes nosed his No. 26 Andretti Global entry into the barrier in Turn 7, losing his front wing.

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What they’re saying

“A good first session. Always loved driving around this place. Missed it. It was a really good session working with team, developing the setup, fixing my driving, as well. A really good start to the weekend, and I'm excited to keep on attacking it.”

— Max Taylor

What’s next

Another practice is scheduled for 8:35 a.m. ET on Saturday, February 28, followed by qualifying at 3:45 p.m. ET. The 45-lap race is set to start at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday, March 1.

The takeaway

Andretti Global's dominance in the opening INDY NXT practice session at St. Petersburg sets the stage for an intriguing battle for the 2026 championship, with Max Taylor emerging as an early favorite after his impressive performance.