The presenting sponsor and Official Tire of Indy NXT will be Firestone, also the Official Tire Supplier and longtime partner of the NTT IndyCar Series. Indy NXT by Firestone will emphasize talent development, while extending racing’s reach and impact to a younger and emerging consumer audience, the series said.
The rebranded racing series, formerly known as Indy Lights, will stage 14 races in 2023, starting March 5 on the Streets of St. Petersburg and competing on a schedule of ovals, road courses and street circuits.
“We look forward to being part of the journey as Indy NXT enters a new era and expands our partnership with IndyCar,” said Lisa Boggs, director of motorsports, Bridgestone Americas. “Having been in the series previously, we know how important it is for the development of the next generation of drivers, and we are proud to support them again. Indy NXT provides opportunities for Firestone to engage with new audiences and develop and showcase our technology.”
“INDY NXT by Firestone will continue to develop and graduate new generations of racers ready to engage in breathtaking, high-stakes competition,” said IndyCar President Jay Frye. “Firestone is the perfect partner in this endeavor, with its innovative technology and authentic appreciation for INDY NXT and its vast potential.”
Starting with the 2022 season, IndyCar took over the management and operations of the developmental series, the sanctioning body said. The launch of the new era included an enhanced collaborative partnership with the NTT IndyCar Series, featuring integration in paddock spaces, marketing, digital assets and race officiating, the series said.
