IndyCar Rookie Dennis Hauger Making Strong Impression Already

The Indy NXT champion starting to get comfortable in Dale Coyne Racing entry.

Mar. 5, 2026 at 9:38pm

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Dennis Hauger, the 2025 Indy NXT champion, has made a strong start to his rookie season in the NTT IndyCar Series. Driving for Dale Coyne Racing, Hauger qualified third and finished 10th in his series debut at the St. Petersburg Grand Prix, impressing many with his pace and performance.

Why it matters

Hauger's impressive debut has raised expectations for the young Norwegian driver, who is seen as a rising talent in the sport. His strong showing with a smaller team like Dale Coyne Racing has also highlighted the competitiveness of the IndyCar Series, where even lower-budget teams can challenge the established powerhouses.

The details

Hauger, who wasn't even sure which Dale Coyne car he would be driving until late in the offseason, qualified just 0.04 seconds off pole position in St. Petersburg. He led the rejuvenated Dale Coyne effort, with teammate Romain Grosjean also making the Firestone Fast Six and finishing eighth. While Hauger's race day wasn't perfect, he still managed a top-10 finish in his IndyCar debut.

  • Hauger received praise from pole-sitter Scott McLaughlin even before the St. Petersburg race.
  • Hauger had a productive two-day test at Phoenix Raceway in February, getting up to speed quickly on the oval.

The players

Dennis Hauger

A 23-year-old Norwegian driver who is the reigning Indy NXT champion and is making his rookie season in the NTT IndyCar Series with Dale Coyne Racing.

Romain Grosjean

Hauger's experienced teammate at Dale Coyne Racing, who also had a strong debut in St. Petersburg with a sixth-place qualifying effort and an eighth-place finish.

Scott McLaughlin

The pole-sitter for the St. Petersburg race, who was impressed by Hauger's performance and the strength of the Dale Coyne Racing effort.

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What they’re saying

“That was a great effort. I was certainly surprised to see both of them in the Fast Six.”

— Scott McLaughlin (autoweek.com)

“I've been preparing for so long for this weekend and haven't been sleeping too well in the last few weeks because I've been just so keen to get going. It was a nice feeling—nothing that I was expecting.”

— Dennis Hauger, IndyCar Driver (autoweek.com)

What’s next

Hauger will look to build on his strong debut this weekend at the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway, where he had a productive test session in February.

The takeaway

Hauger's impressive debut has shown that he has the talent and potential to be a force in the highly competitive IndyCar Series, even as a rookie driving for a smaller team. His performance has raised expectations for the young Norwegian driver and highlighted the depth of talent in the series.