Indianapolis, Indiana – After a difficult Friday race, Dennis Hauger bounced back in spectacular fashion, securing his third victory of the season in the second race of the Indianapolis Grand Prix doubleheader on Saturday. The Norwegian driver, piloting the No. 28 Rental Group car, demonstrated resilience and skill, passing his Andretti Global teammate Lochie Hughes early and never looking back as he powered to a commanding 4.7739-second victory.
Hauger’s triumph marked a major milestone, as he became the first driver to win three of the first four INDY NXT by Firestone races in a season since Pato O’Ward achieved the same feat back in 2018. The victory also helped Hauger extend his championship lead to 15 points over Hughes, further solidifying his dominance in the early stages of the season.
“It’s been a great start to the season,” Hauger said, reflecting on his performance. “Yesterday wasn’t great, but we were able to come back and get a win today. Super-happy about that, and in a place like this, it’s awesome.”
Saturday’s race, held on the iconic 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, was a far cry from Friday’s challenging start. Hauger, who had been bumped off track in the opening turn during Race 1, found himself in a much stronger position this time around. With the memories of Friday’s frustrations behind him, he managed to avoid the chaos of the first turn and immediately put himself in contention for the win.
Lochie Hughes, who had dominated Race 1 by claiming his first-ever career victory in the series, started from pole position and led into Turn 1, just as he had the day before. However, Hauger was hot on his tail, and by the sixth lap, the two teammates were racing side by side for the lead. Hauger, with a daring move, edged past Hughes, despite running his left-side tires in the dirt as they approached Turn 2. Once Hauger made the pass, he never relinquished the lead.
“I think we really didn’t have the balance, either, going through the field. But today we really nailed it,” Hauger explained. “It was a warm day, and you had to judge it nicely with the rear tires. We managed well, and we had really good pace today. That’s a good way to bounce back.”
Hauger’s victory wasn’t without its moments of tension. Hughes initially built a gap of 1.7 seconds by Lap 3, but the race was briefly halted after Jack William Miller and Nolan Allaer collided in Turn 1, forcing both cars off track. The caution period bunched the field back together, giving Hauger another chance to close the gap and launch his attack on Hughes.
When the race restarted on Lap 6, Hauger made quick work of Hughes, passing him decisively and taking control of the race. From that moment forward, Hauger began to pull away steadily, gradually increasing his lead over Hughes. By Lap 29, Hauger had established a 2.6718-second advantage, a gap that would continue to grow as the laps ticked down. The Norwegian driver crossed the finish line unchallenged, securing the victory in dominant fashion.
Meanwhile, Hughes, despite his best efforts, had to settle for second place, while Myles Rowe secured a career-best third, marking his second consecutive podium finish. The Abel/Force Indy driver’s performance was a significant step forward for the young American, who has shown promising potential in the early stages of the season.
Salvador de Alba, who had finished fifth in Friday’s race, climbed one spot to take fourth on Saturday, driving the No. 27 Grupo Indi car. He was the third Andretti Global entry to finish in the top four, alongside Hauger and Hughes. Rounding out the top five was Caio Collet, who finished in the fifth spot for HMD Motorsports.
Despite a promising start, the day ultimately belonged to Hauger. The victory not only demonstrated his skill on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course but also showcased his ability to recover from setbacks and adapt to changing conditions.
With three wins from the first four races, Hauger has proven that he is the driver to beat in the INDY NXT by Firestone series. The result from Indianapolis now sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting season ahead.
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As the series heads to Detroit for the next round on June 1, Hauger’s focus will be on maintaining his momentum and further solidifying his lead in the championship standings. The race on the streets of downtown Detroit will undoubtedly bring its own unique challenges, but with his current form, Hauger will undoubtedly be one of the favorites heading into the event.
“I’m really looking forward to the next race,” Hauger said. “Every race is different, and we’ve got to keep pushing. But with a win like this today, we’re definitely in a good place.”
For Hughes, there is little time to dwell on the disappointment of finishing second. He can take solace in the fact that his first career victory was a significant achievement, and with the season still young, he will undoubtedly be looking to challenge Hauger and get back to the top step of the podium.
As the INDY NXT series moves forward, the battle between Hauger and Hughes promises to be a captivating one. With their performances at the Indianapolis Grand Prix showcasing the talent and determination of both drivers, the championship race is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory.
The next race, the Detroit Grand Prix on June 1, will provide the next chapter in this thrilling season. With Hauger’s dominant performance and Hughes’s resilience, the championship fight is far from over, and fans can expect more thrilling racing as the season progresses.
