Lochie Hughes capped his second Indy NXT season with a third-place finish at Laguna Seca, but the real story came after the race: the Australian revealed he won't return to Andretti Global for a third year, instead setting his sights on the biggest prize in American open-wheel racing – the Indianapolis 500.
The season finale itself was dominated by Tymek Kucharczyk, who led all 30 laps, while Nikita Johnson took second to clinch the rookie title. Hughes, however, stole the headlines with his post-race announcement, confirming his intent to chase an IndyCar seat for 2025 with a long-term goal of racing in the 2027 Indy 500.
Hughes' sophomore campaign was a rollercoaster. After finishing third in his rookie year behind Dennis Hauger and Caio Collet – both now in IndyCar – he struggled to replicate that form. A single win and four podiums were not enough to mount a title challenge, leaving him sixth in the standings. "This year probably had more downs than ups," he admitted. "It's probably the worst season I've ever had in America."
Despite the disappointment, Hughes remains philosophical. "Percentage-wise, if a couple of things had gone my way, we could have had a lot more race wins. The championship is so competitive this year; if you don't get it right, it can go bad pretty quickly," he said. His pace was often there, but luck wasn't on his side.
Now, with two seasons of Indy NXT under his belt, he feels ready for the next step. "I've got to say a big thank you to Andretti for the last few seasons," Hughes said. "Unfortunately, I won't be back with them next year. I'm working on being on the grid at the Indy 500 next year... I'm hoping. I'm confident we can be there."
His announcement adds to the growing Australian presence in the series. Jack Beeton finished 10th in the finale after a puncture in the penultimate race, while Nicolas Stati took 17th and 15th in the two races. But all eyes are now on Hughes as he plots his path to the Brickyard.
With a clear target, Hughes enters a crucial phase in his career. Securing a competitive IndyCar seat will be key, and the coming months will determine whether he can join the ranks of Australian legends at Indianapolis.
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