Dennis Hauger impresses as IndyCar rookie with strong qualifying. [Image Source: AUTOHEBDO]
On the brink of the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series opener, rookie Dennis Hauger officially secured his seat at Dale Coyne Racing but was initially unaware of which of the team’s two cars he would drive. As the March 1 St. Petersburgrace approached, he also learned that Romain Grosjean would return to the series as his teammate, adding a layer of unpredictability to his debut.
Hauger, driving the No. 19 Ault Block Chain Honda, showcased his skill by qualifying third and finishing tenth, a result that immediately commanded attention. His qualifying performance narrowly missed the pole by just four-hundredths of a second, trailing only Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin and Andretti Global’s Marcus Ericsson.
Settling Into the Team and Early Challenges
Speaking at an IndyCar press conference, Hauger reflected on the initial uncertainties within the team regarding car assignments.
“there was a bit of uncertainty about who’s on which car and stuff at times, as well. Once we got all that settled, it was nice to just get everything properly started.”
—Dennis Hauger, Rookie Driver
Despite this early confusion, Hauger quickly found his pace. Grosjean also showed strong form by reaching the Firestone Fast Six in qualifying and finishing eighth, reflecting an overall revitalized performance by Dale Coyne Racing.
Hauger described the weekend as full of new experiences but felt the team’s progress was promising.
“It was a lot of new experiences this weekend, but to get the third place in qualifying was more than I could expect, and just to get a top six for both cars was also really, really good. It shows that we’re both up there and when things are working right, we can do something well.”
—Dennis Hauger, Rookie Driver
Praise from Established Competitors Highlights Hauger’s Impact
Hauger’s strong qualifying drew praise from Scott McLaughlin, the pole-sitter. McLaughlin commended both Dale Coyne Racing drivers’ unexpected breakout performance.
Image of: Dennis Hauger
“That was a great effort. I was certainly surprised to see both of them in the Fast Six.”
—Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Driver
He elaborated on the significance of the results, stressing the competitiveness of IndyCar and the impressive rise of a smaller-budget team.
I was very impressed. This is IndyCar. It’s competitive. That’s what makes the sport so awesome… the fact that a lower-budget team, whatever you want to call it—I’m sure they don’t like me saying that—but at the end of the day, it’s well known… and they’re killing it. That was a great effort. I was certainly surprised to see both of them in the Fast Six, but they’ve made some acquisitions over the off-season and got a couple guys that have been pretty deeply entrenched into the sport.
—Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Driver
Learning From the Race and Building Experience
While Hauger acknowledged room for improvement during the race, his top-10 finish is an achievement many seasoned drivers would appreciate. He reflected on the experience strategically.
I think that the race itself for sure could have done a few things better, and if a few things went with a better direction, we could have gotten a bit more up. Those are things you have to expect on your first race weekend, so I will just take that as an experience and try to improve on it. A good start. I’m not complaining.
—Dennis Hauger, Rookie Driver
Hauger’s readiness for the new challenges was also evident in his comments about his anticipation leading up to the debut weekend.
I’ve been preparing for so long for this weekend and haven’t been sleeping too well in the last few weeks because I’ve been just so keen to get going. It was a nice feeling—nothing that I was expecting. It’s not always going to be like that, for sure, but it was nice to start the season off like that.
—Dennis Hauger, Rookie Driver
Preparing for Upcoming Challenges at Phoenix Raceway
Looking ahead to the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway, Hauger described the oval experience as distinctly different from street courses. The dogleg mile oval required adjustments due to the heavier car and added downforce in IndyCar compared to what he was used to in IndyNXT.
All the ovals are a bit different,
Hauger noted about his February practices on the Phoenix dogleg.
“Going into an IndyCar on an oval was quite different—a bit of a heavier car, more power, more downforce, just a different way of pushing it. But I got up to speed pretty quickly. I felt like I got comfortable quickly, and we got to work on the car, work on the things we needed to. We got through some race runs early in the afternoon, as well. I’m happy about the days we had.”
Confidence Growing as Hauger Matches Seasoned Champions’ Mindset
Hauger’s growing poise on the track echoes the focused mindset of four-time champion Alex Palou, signaling strong future potential. He detailed how his confidence evolved throughout qualifying in St. Petersburg.
As the session went on, we just got more and more comfortable. I got more and more confident in the car, and we just managed to get a bit more out of it every time we got on track, and that made the difference. The series is so tight—there’s hundredths of seconds between the whole field, and those small things can really make the difference.
—Dennis Hauger, Rookie Driver
Hauger’s familiarity and comfort with the car extend from his dominant 2025 IndyNXT season, where he won four of the first five races en route to the championship.
Addressing the complexity of stepping up to IndyCar, Hauger emphasized his long-term mindset and determination to adapt without focusing on rookie status.
It’s just such a different game when you get in IndyCar, for me a lot more stuff to adapt to. I know there’s going to be good weekends and bad weekends, but I think we are feeling pretty natural with it, and that’s a good feeling that I felt in Indy NXT. I’m kind of having the same mindset as last year. I don’t think too much about the rookie stuff. I just want to do the best job I can do and just maximize the performance at the time, and if that’s a P1, it’s a P1; if it’s a P10, it’s a P10.
—Dennis Hauger, Rookie Driver
Looking Ahead: Qualifying and Race Preparation at Phoenix
Qualifying for the Good Ranchers 250 is scheduled for the Friday before the race weekend, with the main event on Saturday. Race day on the Phoenix dogleg oval will also serve as the precursor to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series’ GOVX 200, amplifying the weekend’s racing excitement.
Passing the Torch: Insights from Veteran Motorsports Reporter Susan Wade
Reporting from diverse motorsports perspectives, Susan Wade, a veteran drag-racing writer with nearly 30 years of experience and roots in Indianapolis, captures the human stories behind the races. Wade’s extensive career spans notable publications including the Chicago Tribune, Newark Star-Ledger, and Seattle Times. Her work continues to illuminate the human side of racing through contributions to Autoweek since 2016.
Significance of Hauger’s Early Success Within the 2026 IndyCar Season
Dennis Hauger’s debut performance sends a strong message to the IndyCar community: the Norwegian rookie is an emerging force capable of challenging established drivers and teams. His ability to quickly acclimate and compete at a high level with Dale Coyne Racing demonstrates not only personal talent but also the potential growth of his team. With a mix of confidence, adaptability, and determination, Hauger is positioned to be a key contender as the season unfolds.
As the series advances to venues like Phoenix Raceway, all eyes will be on Hauger to see if he can build on his promising start, refine his racecraft, and truly shake up the field among IndyCar veterans and champions like Alex Palou. The 2026 season is shaping up to be an exciting proving ground for this talented rookie.
