Kiwi Callum Hedge held off a late-race challenge from Myles Rowe to secure his first Indy NXT podium in this morning’s 45-lap outing on the Detroit Street Circuit.
Misfortune for championship leaders Jacob Abel and Nolan Siegel has seen the field close in the standings, with Hedge’s third-placed finish elevating him to sixth overall.
Britain’s Louis Foster led from start to chequered for his second win of 2024 ahead of Caio Collett and Hedge, with the race finishing behind the Safety Car.
Collett stayed within one second of the lead for most of the race, with Foster, who qualified on pole, only increasing his advantage to over two seconds moments before a Lap 39 caution when Christian Bogle spun.
The Brazilian rookie pressured Foster on the restart, but the race was again under yellow on Lap 42 when James Roe spun and collected the trailing cars of Nolan Allaer, Bogle and Niels Koolen.
Before the incidents, Hedge, who had qualified sixth and worked his way forward, was locked in a fierce battle with Rowe for the final podium place, with the Kiwi holding the advantage.
Rowe looked to have completed the move on Lap 42, but on review, the pass happened just after the race-ending caution started, and Hedge was given the position back behind the Safety Car.
Championship leader Abel finished fifth, while his closest rival, Siegel, did not make the start, losing three laps in pit lane due to a half-shaft issue in the #39 HMD Motorsports car.
Foster’s win elevates him to second in the championship, 25 points behind Abel, while Siegel drops to third, a further 19 points in arrears.
Hedge climbs to sixth, behind Rowe and Collett, 49 points outside the top three, and 93 points off the championship lead.
Indy NXT returns next weekend at Road America.
