"It's just a different machine": Myles Rowe makes feelings known about his move to Abel Motorsports for 2025 Indy NXT

Myles Rowe made the move from HMD Motorsports to Abel Motorsport for the 2025 edition of the Indy NXT. The American had an average rookie season in the Indy NXT by Firestone series with HMD Motorsports as he finished 11th in the driver's championship. Regardless, Rowe took part in the Chris Griffis Memorial Test at the IMS in October with Abel Motorsport.

The 24-year-old finished the afternoon session with the fastest time of 1:15:1848 on board while driving the #99 Abel Motorsport Force Indy car. Rowe spoke on the differences between the HMD and Abel machinery and explained how the test gave him confirmation about his pace in the NXT series.

Myles Rowe said:

“Just affirmation. Sometimes you got to do what you got to do. I don't think it's like one team doing something worse or one team doing something better. I love HMD. It’s just a different machine.”

Reflecting on his first session with Abel Motorsport, Rowe added,

“Taking it step by step. I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. We’re on the right path. We’re getting somewhere.”

Myles Rowe broke onto the scene in the Indy NXT championship with HMD Motorsports after his 2023 USF 2000 Pro championship-winning stint winner, which had seen him become the first-ever African-American to win an open-wheel championship. Given his exceptional performances in the junior open-wheel series, many expected Rowe to make an instant impact in the NXT. However, the step from USF 2000 Pro to NXT is a big one in terms of machinery.

Rowe then reviewed his Indy NXT debut season, and reflected on his performance and what lies ahead of him for the 2025 season.

“Whole year's worth of experience compared to none at this point”: Myles Rowe on his debut Indy NXT season

Myles Rowe (22) leads the field of cars into turn five during the USF 2000 - Source: Getty

The Abel Motorsport driver did well to finish in 11th place in the driver's championship. However other rookies like Salvador de Alba, Callum Hedge, and Caio Collet, who won Rookie of the Year finished ahead of Myles Rowe in the championship. But the 24-year-old suggests that it's about getting comfortable in the car.

Myles Rowe said (via Indy NXT):

“You have a whole year's worth of experience compared to none at this point. So, you have all these different things you know you need to work on, you know you need to improve on, streamline different work compared to last year. It's just about feeling it out and then going from there and working off very little knowledge.”

“Now it's just about making sure you execute, whether it's executing the warm-up (practices), the practice sessions, long runs, short runs. It's about getting those things cleaned up so you can start a very comfortable sort of thing. It's just about enhancing your knowledge, instead of applying new knowledge.”

With the boosted confidence following the IMS test and increased comfort level in the Abel Motorsport machinery, Rowe hopes for a better 2025 Indy NXT season.