ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Qualifying for IndyCar’s season-opening race, the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, noticed an surprising workforce close to the highest of the sphere. Each of Dale Coyne Racing’s drivers, Dennis Hauger and Romain Grosjean, made Quick Six qualifying, as they will begin third and sixth, respectively.
For Hauger, it was his first time qualifying in IndyCar. The 22-year-old was the 2025 Indy NXT champion after profitable six races in IndyCar’s developmental collection final yr. It was Hauger’s lone Indy NXT season, as DCR then introduced him in to drive its No. 19 automotive.
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The Norwegian stated he “wasn’t actually anticipating this” on the FS2 broadcast following qualifying. He’ll be on the within of the second row on Sunday, subsequent to three-time reigning champion Alex Palou.
Grosjean wasn’t formally introduced as the driving force for DCR’s No. 18 automotive till Feb. 13, however he had no drawback within the qualifying session of his IndyCar return. Grosjean is coming into his fifth season within the collection, as he drove for DCR in 2021 earlier than stints with Andretti International and Juncos Hollinger Racing. Grosjean was a reserve driver for Prema Racing final yr.
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Alex Palou, driver of the #10 Chip Ganassi Racing throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Alex Palou, driver of the #10 Chip Ganassi Racing throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Graham Rahal, driver of the #15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Will Energy, driver of the #26 Andretti International throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Kyffin Simpson, driver of the #8 Chip Ganassi Racing throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Romain Grosjean, driver of the #18 Dale Coyne Racing throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Scott McLaughlin, driver of the #3 Staff Penske throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Romain Grosjean, driver of the #18 Dale Coyne Racing throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Alexander Rossi, driver of the #20 Ed Carpenter Racing throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Will Energy, driver of the #26 Andretti International throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Kyle Kirkwood, driver of the #27 Andretti International throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Rinus Veekay, driver of the #76 Juncos Hollinger Racing drives throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Alexander Rossi, driver of the #20 Ed Carpenter Racing throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Christian Rasmussen, driver of the #21 Ed Carpenter Racing drives throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Alex Palou, driver of the #10 Chip Ganassi Racing throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Sting Ray Robb, driver of the #77 Juncos Hollinger Racing throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Louis Foster, driver of the #45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Will Energy, driver of the #26 Andretti International throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Santino Ferrucci, driver of the #14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Santino Ferrucci, driver of the #14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises drives throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Alexander Rossi, driver of the #20 Ed Carpenter Racing throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
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IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Graham Rahal, driver of the #15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing throughout apply rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Collection Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photograph by David Jensen/Getty Photos)
Saturday was the primary time DCR has put two drivers within the Quick 12 since 2022. Final yr, the workforce’s two drivers — Rinus VeeKay and Jacob Abel — completed 14th and twenty seventh, respectively, within the IndyCar standings.
DCR hasn’t gained a race since Sebastien Bourdais gained the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in 2018. Bourdais additionally gained the race in 2017. Now, the workforce may have an opportunity to finish that drought with two drivers within the entrance three rows.
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