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 International, 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 increased than the midfield.
On paper, Hauger’s rookie marketing campaign is anchored by two spectacular top-10 finishes, together with a career-best eighth-place outcome on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway street course in Might. Look nearer on the information, nevertheless, and a development of blistering race tempo and masterful overtaking emerges.
Hauger’s season has been outlined by scientific fees by means of the sector. It started by qualifying a outstanding third on debut for the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg earlier than ending tenth. At Lengthy Seashore, he sliced by means of the sector to transform a Nineteenth-place beginning spot to an Eleventh-place end. His greatest efficiency so far, 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.
Other than a mechanical setback at Gateway as a consequence of a gasoline cell challenge, Hauger has crossed the end line at each single occasion.
“I really feel like this yr has simply been full of potential,” Hauger mentioned. “Occupied with 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 a much bigger bundle in my thoughts by way of what I must do to be the perfect I can on the market.”
Because the collection 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 automotive’s true tempo.
He’s additionally measuring himself towards a formidable benchmark in veteran teammate Romain Grosjean.
“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 section successfully over, Hauger is letting go of conservative rookie targets.
“I positively need greater than that. I do not wish to struggle midfield,” Hauger mentioned. “I wish to be up there preventing for podiums and preventing for high 5s and wins… I wish to chase high 10s repeatedly, and I really feel like we are able to do this.”
Trying towards 2027
Dennis Hauger, Dale Coyne Racing
Photograph by: Geoff Miller / Lumen through Getty Photographs
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 outstanding affiliate of Andretti International, his contract standing is likely one of 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 major Andretti seat, or look elsewhere totally, all of it appears up within the air.
“Actually, I do not know but,” Hauger mentioned. “Nonetheless fairly open, it appears, throughout the sector of the grid. For me, I simply need to see the alternatives I can get. I do know when I’ve a great automotive, I am able to successful races and being up on the highest.”
When pressed on whether or not he’s legally free to signal exterior of the Andretti for subsequent yr, Hauger politely shut down the road of questioning.
“I am unable to actually discuss in regards to the contract stuff. Not an excessive amount of to say there,” Hauger mentioned. “Proper now I am simply doing the perfect I can on observe, and we’ll see the place it finally ends up.”
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