Kiko Porto joins Cape Motorsports at the Brickyard
Porto and Jagger Jones will contest this weekend’s event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (August 9, 2023) – Kiko Porto will make his INDY NXT by Firestone debut this weekend, joining Cape Motorsports at the team’s home track, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Porto will also race with the team at the season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in September.
Porto will drive the No. 47 Cape Brothers Speed Shop Dallara IL-15, as he graduates from the USF Pro Championships (formerly the Road to Indy) to the INDY NXT series. Porto will pair with Jagger Jones to contest the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix, part of the joint INDYCAR/NASCAR weekend at the Speedway.
“We are really looking forward to the IMS race, it’s a track we have raced on already,” said Nicholas and Dominic Cape. “Jagger had a good race in May so we should be in a good place to start.
“Kiko will be joining us for IMS and the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Secca races, and we are super excited to have him here on our team. We have known him and been watching him for years; we can't wait to see him drive our car. I think Jagger and Kiko will be a really good pairing.”
The 20-year-old Brazilian has come up through the junior development series ladder, winning the 2021 USF2000 title with four wins, 10 podium finishes and a series-high six pole positions. Porto currently sits in second place in the USF Pro Championship standings with five podiums. He earned numerous karting titles as a youngster before moving up through Formula NACAM, USF F4 Powered by Honda, to the USF Pro Championships.
Porto has achieved a great deal of success at IMS in his four years in the USF Pro Championships, including a victory (in USF2000 in 2021), three pole positions, four podiums and top eight finishes in 10 of 11 races.
“We’ve been focused on the USF Pro Championships this year, but in the back of our mind, we wanted to take a look at INDY NXT,” said Porto. “This opportunity with Cape became available and I’m so excited.
“I know Indianapolis so well and have had a lot of success here, and I understand the track, so that will make the transition a bit easier. I can just focus on adapting to the car – which I’ll have to do quickly, with just one practice. I will have to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. It will be a big jump, so I will have to have the mindset of not just repeating what I know with the USF Pro car because that’s not the way to go.”
The INDY NXT by Firestone joins the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ Gallagher Grand Prix weekend alongside NASCAR, with all sessions on Friday: practice (11:00 a.m.) and qualifying (2:20 p.m.) on INDYCAR LIVE and the race (4:50 p.m.) live on Peacock. All sessions will be on INDYCAR Radio, all times EDT.