Dennis Hauger, the Norwegian racing sensation, has begun his journey in the Indy NXT by Firestone series with a bang, delivering a performance that exceeded all expectations. The first race of the season saw him not only secure pole position but also lead every lap, subsequently taking the checkered flag in the No. 28 Rental Group car under caution. This triumph makes Hauger the first driver to clinch a victory in his debut Indy NXT by Firestone race since Linus Lundqvist in 2021.
Hauger’s transition to the IndyCar development series follows a stellar run in the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2021, where he emerged victorious. His record also includes five wins and 13 podium finishes in FIA Formula 2 – the final rung on the ladder to Formula 1 – over the past three seasons.
Recounting his first race experience in the Indy NXT series, Hauger stated, “That was fun. First proper race on this course for me, as well. We had a good rhythm. The car was really good, and the team did an amazing job all weekend long to be up there with us. Super happy. Good start to the season and definitely a confidence boost for us.”
The event was not just a success for Hauger but a triumph for Andretti Global, as Lochie Hughes, another rookie, secured a second-place finish in the No. 26 McGinley Clinic/USF Pro Championship machine. The podium was completed by Caio Collet, the highest-ranked returning driver, behind the wheel of the No. 76 HMD Motorsports car.
Myles Rowe, in the No. 99 Abel Motorsports/Force Indy car, matched his career-best result by coming in fourth, while Salvador de Alba, driving the No. 27 Grupo Indi car for Andretti Global, completed the top five.
Jordan Missig, another driver making significant strides, achieved a career-best sixth place in the No. 48 Abel Motorsports car. This achievement followed his career-best qualifying position of ninth and capped off a breakthrough weekend for the young driver.
Hauger’s commanding performance was momentarily interrupted by four caution flags, which led to the originally planned 45-lap race being revised into a 55-minute event. Despite the disruptions, Hauger successfully held off Hughes in all three restarts and steadily increased his lead.
As the race neared its conclusion with just 10 minutes left, Hauger was ahead of Hughes by 1.3 seconds. This lead further widened to 2.4 seconds and was still growing when Jack William Miller, running fifth in the No. 40 Abel/Miller/Vinatieri Motorsports car, hit the barrier in Turn 9. This incident brought about the fourth and final caution period and signaled the end of the race.
HMD Motorsports’ rookie female teammates, Sophia Floersch and Hailie Deegan, finished 12th and 14th respectively in their series debuts.
The Grand Prix of Alabama is the next Indy NXT by Firestone race, scheduled for Sunday, May 4 at Barber Motorsports Park. The race will be broadcasted on FS1, the FOX Sports app, and the IndyCar Radio Network from 11:30am ET.
