Tony Quinn Foundation Ambassador Callum Hedge secured his first Indy NXT Callum Hedge podium of the 2025 season during the intense double-header weekend at Laguna Seca, California. Hedge’s performance marked a strong return to form as he navigated a challenging race environment to deliver his season’s best results.
Entering the California round, Hedge carried momentum from four straight Top 7 finishes, building confidence with his consistent pace and positive preseason testing at Laguna Seca.
Preparations and Qualifying Set the Stage
The double-header format placed added importance on qualifying, which determined the starting grid for both 35-lap races. Hedge utilized two practice sessions to dial in his car, clocking a 1:15.4937 lap in Practice 1 to finish sixth, trailing pace-setter Dennis Hauger by three-quarters of a second.
Hedge showed further improvement in Practice 2, recording a 1:14.6709 lap, moving him to fifth overall and narrowing the gap to leader Caio Collet.
In Qualifying, Hedge faced the pressure of posting two strong laps, as the second-best time would decide the grid for Race 2. Competing in Group 2, he maintained a consistent presence in the top three, posting a fastest lap of 1:13.5210 and a second-best time of 1:13.7659—enough to secure fifth place on the grid for both races.
Race 1: Managing Chaos and Holding Position
The opening race quickly became hectic from the start. Starting from the inside of Row 3, Hedge battled alongside teammate Myles Rowe but was squeezed wide exiting Turn 3, losing momentum and exposing himself to further pressure at Turn 4. During this chaos, Sebastian Murray attempted an ambitious move that resulted in a spin, though Hedge avoided contact.
The subsequent incidents triggered an early caution, allowing the field to regroup. When the race resumed on Lap 5, Hedge held fifth, closely trailing Rowe and ahead of championship contender Lochie Hughes. Throughout the race, he maintained his position in the fight for a podium place, keeping within striking distance of Rowe and comfortably ahead of Hughes.
In the final laps, Rowe pulled away to finish just over three seconds ahead, while Hedge crossed the line in fifth, claiming his best result since the Indianapolis round in May.
Race 2: Navigating Incidents to Find the Podium
Starting again from fifth for the second race, Hedge faced more early-race drama. Several cars were involved in incidents during the opening corners, but Hedge skillfully avoided trouble and held his position as another caution period was called.
On the Lap 5 restart, Hedge positioned himself behind Hughes, defending against Rowe and Max Taylor. He made an assertive attempt around the outside into Turn 1 but settled back into line, then closely kept pace with Hughes while fending off Rowe’s challenges.
The race was neutralised for a second time following a heavy crash at Turn 6 involving fellow Tony Quinn Foundation Ambassador Liam Sceats, who thankfully walked away from the impact unharmed.
When racing resumed on Lap 22, Rowe intensified pressure on Hedge, who maintained composure despite another caution later on due to further incidents.
With nine laps remaining, the race restarted dramatically. At Turn 1, a late move by Rowe forced contact with Hedge, sending Rowe spinning. Ahead of this, Dennis Hauger and Lochie Hughes collided, taking both out of contention for the podium. The resulting caution elevated Hedge to third place behind Caio Collet and Pierson.
On the final restart with five laps to go, Hedge executed a strong restart and challenged Pierson into Turn 1, but Pierson held his position. Hedge then managed his gap behind skillfully, pulling away from Max Taylor and crossing the line in third place, securing his first podium of the 2025 Indy NXT season.
Significance of Hedge’s Podium and Championship Prospects
This podium finish reflected Hedge’s steady progression throughout the season and served as a payoff for the consistent effort he has shown. His back-to-back Top 5 finishes at Laguna Seca provide an important boost in the championship standings, moving him to seventh overall and narrowing the gap to the Top 5 to just 36 points. He also sits less than 100 points behind third-placed Lochie Hughes.
After a well-earned break, Hedge will next compete at the final road course event of the season at Portland International Raceway. With only three rounds remaining in the 2025 Indy NXT calendar, every point counts as Hedge aims to build on this strong momentum and climb higher in the championship rankings.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is indy nxt like F2?
A. The FIA Formula 2 car produces 620 horsepower, while the INDY NXT by Firestone has 450 horsepower. However, unlike INDY NXT cars, F2 cars do not permit drivers to slide through corners.
Q. What is indy nxt compared to F1?
A. Speed and Performance. Speed is crucial in racing. IndyCar vehicles can hit about 240 mph, whereas F1 cars reach up to 220 mph.
Another interesting point is team size. IndyCar teams can have as many as three cars, but F1 teams are restricted to two cars each.