Race

Matthew Brabham completed the INDY NXT by Firestone Outfront Showdown race in P7 on Saturday night, while team-mate Rasmus Lindh brought his #76 car home in P14.

With earlier stormy weather delaying the on-track action at World Wide Technology Raceway, the start of the 75-lap race was delayed by six hours. And with no opportunity to hold a qualifying session, grid places for the floodlit race were determined on entrant points.

That meant Matthew started from P11 as the green flag flew, while Rasmus was seated a couple of places further ahead as the drivers soon discovered how the earlier rain had reduced grip levels on the 1.25-mile superspeedway.

Matthew, the winner of last year’s corresponding NXT race, made a fast start in his #75 machine and leapfrogged several rivals to take P5 on the opening laps. However, the Australian-American couldn’t hold on and dropped a couple of places as the race reached one-third distance.

Rasmus meanwhile, was unable to show the same speed that had earned him P7 in the earlier NXT practice and he dropped to P14 at the half way point.

A caution period with 12 laps remaining closed the field back up, but neither Matthew or Rasmus were unable to make any further progress and completed the final oval race of the season in P7 and P14 respectively.