ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Qualifying for IndyCar’s season-opening race, the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, noticed an sudden crew close to the highest of the sector. Each of Dale Coyne Racing’s drivers, Dennis Hauger and Romain Grosjean, made Quick Six qualifying, as they’re going to 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 12 months. It was Hauger’s lone Indy NXT season, as DCR then introduced him in to drive its No. 19 automobile.
Commercial
The Norwegian mentioned 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 automobile 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 World and Juncos Hollinger Racing. Grosjean was a reserve driver for Prema Racing final 12 months.
1 / 21
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 observe 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 Pictures)
1 / 21
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 observe 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 Pictures)
2 / 21
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 observe 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 Pictures)
3 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Will Energy, driver of the #26 Andretti World throughout observe 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 Pictures)
4 / 21
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 observe 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 Pictures)
5 / 21
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 observe 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 Pictures)
6 / 21
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 observe 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 Pictures)
7 / 21
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 observe 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 Pictures)
8 / 21
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 observe 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 Pictures)
9 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Will Energy, driver of the #26 Andretti World throughout observe 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 Pictures)
10 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Kyle Kirkwood, driver of the #27 Andretti World throughout observe 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 Pictures)
11 / 21
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 observe 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 Pictures)
12 / 21
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 observe 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 Pictures)
13 / 21
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 observe 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 Pictures)
14 / 21
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 observe 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 Pictures)
15 / 21
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 observe 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 Pictures)
16 / 21
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 observe 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 Pictures)
17 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Will Energy, driver of the #26 Andretti World throughout observe 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 Pictures)
18 / 21
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 observe 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 Pictures)
19 / 21
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 observe 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 Pictures)
20 / 21
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 observe 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 Pictures)
21 / 21
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 observe 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 Pictures)
Saturday was the primary time DCR has put two drivers within the Quick 12 since 2022. Final 12 months, the crew’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 crew can have an opportunity to finish that drought with two drivers within the entrance three rows.
Commercial
