Caio Collet sent a message to the INDY NXT by Firestone field by leading pre-qualifying practice Saturday afternoon at World Wide Technology Raceway.
2024 series Rookie of the Year Collet, from Brazil, was fastest at 164.630 mph in the No. 76 HMD Motorsports car. He is seeking his first victory of the season as the INDYCAR development series contests its first oval race of 2025.
SEE: Practice Results
Veteran Myles Rowe was second at 163.871 in the No. 99 Abel/Force Indy car, followed by rookie Lochie Hughes at 163.648 in the No. 26 McGinley Clinic/USF Pro Championship machine of Andretti Global. Veteran Callum Hedge was fourth at 163.436 in the No. 17 Abel Motorsports car.
Championship leader Dennis Hauger of Andretti Global rounded out the top five at 162.980 in the No. 28 Nammo car.
Rookies Hauger and Hughes have combined to win all five races this season, with Hauger capturing four checkered flags to take a 38-point lead in the standings over Hughes.
Up next today is qualifying at 7 p.m. ET on FS2, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network. The 75-lap race starts at 4:30 p.m. ET Sunday (FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).