Norwegian rookie Dennis Hauger secured a surprising third-place starting position for the 2026 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, outpacing reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou during qualifying. Hauger, driving for Dale Coyne Racing, achieved this despite encountering difficulties during practice sessions earlier that weekend.
From Formula 2 to IndyCar: Hauger’s Rapid Rise
Dennis Hauger previously competed in Formula 2 between 2022 and 2024 as part of the Red Bull junior program before opting to relocate to the United States to join the Indy NXT series, the main feeder for IndyCar. Demonstrating remarkable talent, he captured the Indy NXT championship in his rookie year, which led Dale Coyne Racing to sign him for the 2026 IndyCar season.
Qualifying Highlights at St. Petersburg
The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg marks Hauger’s debut street race in the IndyCar series. After finishing 17th and 13th in the practice sessions, expectations for Hauger were modest, with no forecasts placing him among the top contenders for the Fast 6 qualifying segment.
However, Hauger and teammate Romain Grosjean both reached the Fast 6 round after a significant improvement in their race setups. Though Alex Palou initially led the timing charts, Scott McLaughlin and Marcus Ericsson soon surpassed him, reshuffling the front positions.
Hauger’s final run in the Fast 6 came remarkably close to challenging McLaughlin’s pole time, missing it by just a few hundredths of a second. Ultimately, Hauger secured third place, relegating Palou to fourth on the grid. The starting lineup places McLaughlin on pole, Ericsson beside him on the front row, and Hauger with Palou on the second row. David Malukas and Grosjean are set to start from the third row.
In contrast, notable drivers like Josef Newgarden and Will Power faced setbacks, exiting early in qualifying and starting outside the top 12 positions.
Dennis Hauger’s Take on the Qualifying Breakthrough
Reflecting on his unexpected strong qualifying performance, Hauger expressed surprise and satisfaction. Speaking with Jack Harvey after qualifying, he said,
“I wasn’t really expecting that to be honest. I mean, we were on a bit of a backfoot in practice but we kept going, and man, it was super nice in qualifying, got some experience on the reds (soft tires), and we were pretty quick, so a good start. Still got tomorrow so we keep working but definitely more than I could hope for.” ?Dennis Hauger, IndyCar Rookie
Team Progress and What This Means for the Season
Dale Coyne Racing’s technical partnership with Andretti Global has evidently contributed to their improved competitiveness this season. Hauger’s strong qualifying run not only underscores his personal adaptation to IndyCar but also highlights the potential of his team to challenge established frontrunners like Alex Palou and Scott McLaughlin.
As the race unfolds in St. Petersburg, Hauger’s position on the grid may allow him to capitalize on early-race opportunities and make a significant impact in his series debut. With strong teammates and technical support, this performance may signal a promising year ahead for the young Norwegian driver and Dale Coyne Racing in the 2026 IndyCar season.
