In a thrilling showcase of skill and speed, Myles Rowe has emerged as the early frontrunner for the Grand Prix of Alabama doubleheader at Barber Motorsports Park. The seasoned Indy NXT by Firestone driver left a lasting impression during the sole practice session on Friday, clocking an impressive lap of 1 minute, 12.0345 seconds behind the wheel of his No. 99 ABEL Motorsports with Force Indy car.
Entering his third season in the fiercely competitive IndyCar development series, Rowe was already a name to watch, having finished fourth in the standings in 2025 and clinched two career INDY NXT victories. However, the start of this season has been anything but smooth, with Rowe grappling to find his rhythm, resulting in seventh and tenth place finishes in the initial races. Currently sitting eighth in the standings, he desperately needed this boost.
“Happy with P1, no doubt, especially with a couple of performances we weren’t happy with in Round 1 and Round 2,” Rowe expressed with a sense of relief and determination. The upcoming doubleheader weekend presents an opportunity for redemption, especially with double points on the line. “Coming into our first doubleheader weekend, it definitely makes it easier on the team knowing we have pace coming into qualifying in a weekend where we have double points (two races). I’m happy with the performance. Very grateful for the team, ABEL Motorsports with Force Indy, and looking forward to the rest of the weekend.”
The competition was fierce, with Rowe narrowly edging out JM Correa by a mere seven 10-thousandths of a second, as Correa finished second at 1:12.0352 in the No. 68 Cusick Morgan Motorsports entry. Josh Pierson followed closely in third place, recording a time of 1:12.1283 in the No. 29 Starchive Andretti car, showcasing the talent and speed of the next generation of racing stars.
Notably, Enzo Fittipaldi, the grandson of two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Emerson Fittipaldi, made waves by securing fourth place with a time of 1:12.1869 in the No. 67 HMD Motorsports car, marking him as the fastest rookie in the field. Lochie Hughes, returning to the series this season, rounded out the top five with a commendable time of 1:12.2004 in the No. 26 Andretti Global machine.
The results from the 45-minute practice session highlight an incredibly tight competition, with just .1920 of a second separating the top six drivers. With such close margins, fans can expect an exhilarating series of races as these talented drivers battle it out for supremacy on the track. Rowe’s performance has certainly set the stage for an electrifying weekend ahead, and all eyes will be on him as he attempts to convert this momentum into victory.
