A five-time INDYCAR champion with a rookie designation is an excellent way to make an entry list stand out.
Alex Palou is among the drivers entered for the Chris Griffis Memorial Test, joining a field that mixes returning INDY NXT competitors, prospective newcomers, and drivers whose next steps remain open. His presence supplies the most entertaining detail on the list, but there is plenty to examine beyond the idea of one of INDYCAR’s best drivers suddenly becoming a rookie again. Martinius Stenshorne, Sophia Flörsch, and Tymek Kucharczyk are also entered, giving the test several storylines as attention turns toward 2027. The distinction throughout is that a test entry establishes participation in a test. It does not, by itself, establish a race program.
That is obvious with Palou. It deserves to be remembered when assessing everyone else, too.
Palou’s Rookie Label Is About the Car
There is something wonderfully absurd about seeing an “R” beside Palou’s name. The designation makes more sense once it is separated from his overall résumé.
Palou has never raced an Indy Lights or INDY NXT car. His experience and success in INDYCAR do not automatically give him a competition history in its development series. He can therefore appear in the rookie group while being considerably more accomplished than anyone would ordinarily associate with that description. The label alone is no evidence of a loophole or a special competitive advantage. It describes his status in this category, rather than suggesting that he needs an introduction to high-level open-wheel racing. His participation nevertheless creates an intriguing comparison. Seeing how Palou adapts, and how the younger drivers measure up during the same test, will be interesting. Stenshorne is an especially appealing name in that context.
Any comparison needs to stay within what a test can actually show. A timing sheet can provide a result without explaining everything behind it. Palou’s presence makes the session more compelling, but it does not turn the test into a definitive ranking of the drivers around him.
Stenshorne’s Entry Opens a Question About What Comes Next
Stenshorne’s inclusion immediately raises the possibility of an INDY NXT move. It is a possibility worth watching, rather than a conclusion supported by the entry list alone.
There is a useful precedent in Victor Martins, who also tested an INDY NXT car last year. Taking part can be an opportunity to evaluate a different direction without committing to it. For Stenshorne, the immediate significance is that he will get that opportunity. Whether it becomes something more remains to be seen.
That distinction matters across the field. An offseason test can bring together drivers pursuing a seat, drivers exploring alternatives, and drivers whose participation serves a shorter-term purpose. Their names can appear on the same list without their plans being equally advanced.
Sophia Flörsch Returns With Unfinished Business
Flörsch’s entry brings a different kind of interest because she has already made an INDY NXT race appearance, at St. Petersburg in 2025.
Her inclusion in the rookie group may initially look inconsistent with that history. However, rookie eligibility does not necessarily disappear after a single start. A driver can retain that status despite having competed previously. The precise eligibility thresholds are not established here, so there is no reason to attach a specific race limit to the explanation. The relevant point is that a previous appearance and a rookie designation can coexist. The more meaningful question is whether this test can lead to a sustained opportunity. One race provides a limited basis for judging what a driver might accomplish over a full season. A longer run would give Flörsch a much better opportunity to establish where she fits in the field and whether INDY NXT can become a lasting direction for her career.
Her return to the entry list is therefore interesting on its own. It is an opening, even if it is not yet evidence of a full-season comeback.
Kucharczyk’s Next Step Remains Open
Kucharczyk is another name whose participation invites questions about 2027.
An endurance move had appeared to be a possible direction, while he has also been teasing a potential Macau Grand Prix appearance. His place on this list adds INDY NXT testing to that picture without necessarily resolving any of it. There are several possible interpretations. He could be evaluating an opportunity, maintaining an option, or participating while longer-term arrangements are still being settled. The entry list does not establish which explanation applies. The prospect of an INDYCAR move adds another layer of speculation, but there is a substantial distance between wanting a seat and securing one. Budget and availability remain central to that discussion.
For now, the strongest conclusion is also the narrowest: Kucharczyk is entered for the test. His participation is worth following, but it should not be presented as confirmation that he has abandoned another route or secured his next program.
Abbi Pulling’s Earlier Test Was a Separate Outing
Abbi Pulling’s absence is also worth clarifying because she previously participated in an INDY NXT test.
That outing was a new-driver evaluation test. The Chris Griffis Memorial Test is a separate event, effectively opening the testing picture for the 2027 season. Her earlier participation did not automatically mean she would appear on this entry list. Equally, her absence here does not establish that she has ruled out the series.
As with the drivers who are entered, the available information leaves room for multiple possibilities. A test can be part of an evaluation without immediately producing a public commitment.
The Full Entry List
The rookie-designated entries are:
- Bart Harrison
- Frankie Mossman
- Alex Palou
- Cem Bölükbaşı
- Jose Garfias
- Teddy Musella
- Martinius Stenshorne
- Leonardo Escorpioni
- Sophia Flörsch
- Jack Jeffers
The other entries are:
- Max Garcia
- Alexander Koreiba
- Alessandro de Tullio
- Seb Murray
- Matteo Nannini
- Bryce Aron
- G3 Argyros
- Max Taylor
- Jack Beeton
- Niels Koolen
- Jacob Abel
- Tymek Kucharczyk
Across those 22 names, the attraction extends well beyond Palou’s unlikely rookie status. There are returning competitors to assess, potential newcomers to watch, and several drivers whose participation may offer an early indication of their next direction.
Palou will naturally draw attention. For the drivers trying to turn this test into their next opportunity, though, the more consequential story is what follows it.