A Fittipaldi returns to an open-wheel car this weekend, and it is young Enzo Fittipaldi who is set to make his IndyNXT debut Sunday at St. Petersburg.

Fittipaldi has made a name for himself overseas with success in Formula racing, but the 24-year-old is set to shift to the U.S. and continue the family legacy in hopes of a future Indianapolis 500 opportunity.

“Yeah, I’m super excited for this opportunity,” Fittipaldi tells GT REPORT. “It’s always been my dream to race in the U.S., and one of my ultimate dreams in my career was to compete in the Indy 500 and try and win the Indy 500. So for me, racing in IndyNXT to achieve that dream is a very important step to be made in my career. It’s a good stepping stone for me to be racing here in the U.S. for the first time this year and to be able to learn the tracks and everything. I’m just super excited and stoked at the opportunity.”

While St. Pete is new for Fittipaldi, street course competition is not.

With a handful of wins on street circuits — including a Formula 2 victory at Jeddah in 2024 with Van Amersfoort Racing — Fittipaldi is ready to bring that experience to Florida.

“Yeah, it looks like a really fun track to drive. It’s a street circuit, so I really love street circuits. I think they’re very fun, and it’s the type of track where, you know, if you make a mistake, you’re in the wall. So there is a lot of tension when you’re out there on track, and it is a lot of fun as a driver to drive on a street circuit and push the car to the limit and be, you know, centimeters away or just scrubbing the wall on your fast lap. Extracting everything from the track and from the car is very special, especially on street circuits. So I’m very much looking forward to it. I’m no stranger to street circuits. I’ve had a lot of success. I won Formula 2 races on street circuits, so I’m super excited for this first race here at St. Pete.”

The move to IndyNXT provides no easy task for any new driver. Even with experience at the top levels of open-wheel racing, Fittipaldi will face stiff competition in what many are calling one of the most competitive seasons in series history.

“Yeah, I think IndyNXT is at a very, very high level in competition. If you look at testing, it’s been extremely close, especially in the top five. I mean, the times are very, very close, so it is very competitive. Many people are saying that this could be the most competitive season in IndyNXT history. I’m very much looking forward to being a part of this season and being able to compete against these great drivers. I’m sure I’m going to continue to learn and improve as a driver, and the goal is to have a lot of success this year in IndyNXT.”

Preparation has been extensive leading into the season opener, with multiple test sessions across the country helping Fittipaldi and his team dial in the new machinery.

“I think the testing for us has been very good. I feel like every test we just got better and better, and we were able to improve the car in places where it needed to be improved, and that was very successful for us. So I feel like we got a lot of data, a lot of good info coming into the first race weekend. I feel like we’re going to be very well prepared for the first race. I feel like we’re going to be super competitive as well.”

For Fittipaldi, one of the biggest adjustments has been adapting to the nature of American circuits.

“But for me, the biggest thing is just getting used to the way the tracks are here in the U.S. It’s very different from Europe. I feel like in the U.S., the tracks are very much old school, like how it used to be — how Formula 1 used to be back in the ’80s and ’90s. It’s very much old school. So you really have very little margin for error here in the U.S., and if you do make an error, it’s going to be very costly. So it’s something that is very fun as a race car driver. I just feel like there’s more adrenaline, more tension when you’re driving at these U.S. tracks. It is very special and unique, and I’ve been really enjoying it.”

Beyond St. Pete, Fittipaldi already has a few races circled on the calendar.

“Honestly, I’m very excited for St. Pete. I think it’s a really cool track. But I’m also very much looking forward to Road America. It really is a beautiful track. I went there last year to watch my brother race in the P2 class at IMSA, but I have never driven there. So that’s somewhere that I really want to experience. And then just my first oval race. I’ve never driven on ovals, never raced on ovals with open wheels. So that’s something I’m very much looking forward to.”

The support system around him at HMD Motorsports will also play a key role, as Fittipaldi joins a deep and experienced driver lineup.

“I think it’s really good. I mean, the better drivers you have around you, it’s always good because we’re pushing each other. We’re learning from each other because we have data that we can see. We can see where one teammate is doing a corner better, and we can just learn and improve as drivers. So I think everything about that is beneficial. Having four very good drivers in the lineup is very positive. So yeah, I’m very excited.”

Of course, carrying the Fittipaldi name into American open-wheel racing naturally draws attention. But for Enzo, the legacy brings pride rather than pressure.

“For me, there’s not much pressure, to be honest. Obviously, it’s an honor to be able to represent the Fittipaldi name and continue representing it on racetracks and doing well. But pressure from the name has never really affected me. If anything, it’s always been good pressure. I think I put more pressure on myself than anyone else to perform.”

Earlier this year, Fittipaldi also got a taste of American endurance racing, competing in the Rolex 24 at Daytona alongside his brother, Pietro.

“It was definitely a dream come true for both of us to be able to race together on the same team in one of the biggest races in the world. That was very special for us and for the whole family.”

The preparation for that 24-hour marathon was unlike anything he had experienced before.

“For sure, the most prep I’ve ever done for any race in my life has been for the Daytona 24. It was really eye-opening for me and a very nice experience. You really have to change your mentality for the first 20 hours just to be there for the last four hours.”

As for his goals in IndyNXT, Fittipaldi is keeping expectations grounded but ambitions high.

“I don’t really have much expectation for this weekend. I’m not putting an expectation on it. Obviously, my goal is to be fighting at the front this weekend. That’s definitely a clear target for us as a team. The goals for this season are to continue learning and improving as a driver and to be fighting for the championship toward the end of the season.”