Dennis Hauger is main the IndyCar Rookie of the Yr standings, however has no intention of simply coasting to a freshman title.
The 23-year-old Norwegian driver of the #19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda – successfully on mortgage from Andretti World, the powerhouse outfit he secured the 2025 Indy NXT championship with – has turned heads with a string of resilient performances. Now, because the paddock heads into the second half of the season, the previous Crimson Bull junior is setting his sights a lot larger than the midfield.
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On paper, Hauger’s rookie marketing campaign is anchored by two spectacular top-10 finishes, together with a career-best eighth-place end result on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway street course in Might. Look nearer on the information, nonetheless, and a development of blistering race tempo and masterful overtaking emerges.
Hauger’s season has been outlined by medical fees via the sector. It started by qualifying a exceptional third on debut for the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg earlier than ending tenth. At Lengthy Seashore, he sliced via the sector to transform a Nineteenth-place beginning spot to an Eleventh-place end. His finest efficiency to this point, although, is undoubtedly gaining 16 positions on the early Might spherical on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway street course, the place he began twenty fourth and ended eighth.
Except for a mechanical setback at Gateway resulting from a gas cell difficulty, Hauger has crossed the end line at each single occasion.
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“I really feel like this 12 months has simply been full of potential,” Hauger mentioned. “Fascinated about my mindset in race one, how little I truly knew by way of race expertise and the way a lot I do know now, it’s only a confidence enhance. I’ve an even bigger bundle in my thoughts by way of what I have to do to be the most effective I can on the market.”
Because the sequence rolls into Mid-Ohio Sports activities Automotive Course, Hauger is on the lookout for a clear, uninterrupted weekend to construct momentum. The #19 crew has confronted shifting personnel all year long, however Hauger is hopeful {that a} stabilizing engineering group will permit them to unlock the automobile’s true tempo.
He’s additionally measuring himself in opposition to a formidable benchmark in veteran teammate Romain Grosjean.
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“I do know he is a fast man,” Hauger mentioned. “When he was with Andretti, for instance, he had three or 4 pole positions. He is aware of what he is doing, and I really feel like I have been matching him at instances and getting quicker.”
With the educational part successfully over, Hauger is letting go of conservative rookie targets.
“I undoubtedly need greater than that. I do not need to combat midfield,” Hauger mentioned. “I need to be up there preventing for podiums and preventing for high 5s and wins… I need to chase high 10s frequently, and I really feel like we are able to try this.”
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Trying towards 2027Dennis Hauger, Dale Coyne Racing
Dennis Hauger, Dale Coyne Racing
Now within the midst of the summer time months, paddock chatter has naturally shifted towards the longer term. As a result of Hauger stays a distinguished affiliate of Andretti World, his contract standing is among the grid’s most intriguing storylines forward of the 2027 season.
Whereas hypothesis is rising concerning whether or not Hauger will stick with Dale Coyne, transition right into a main Andretti seat, or look elsewhere totally, all of it appears up within the air.
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“Actually, I do not know but,” Hauger mentioned. “Nonetheless fairly open, it appears, throughout the sector of the grid. For me, I simply must see the alternatives I can get. I do know when I’ve an excellent automobile, I am able to successful races and being up on the highest.”
When pressed on whether or not he’s legally free to signal outdoors of the Andretti for subsequent 12 months, Hauger politely shut down the road of questioning.
“I am unable to actually speak in regards to the contract stuff. Not an excessive amount of to say there,” Hauger mentioned. “Proper now I am simply doing the most effective I can on observe, and we’ll see the place it finally ends up.”
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