Round 6 of the Indy NXT season is in the books as the race at St. Louis Gateway has been completed, view the full report and results below. Championship leader Dennis Hauger started on pole, with former F3 rival Caio Collet on the front row with him.
Hauger held the lead off the line when the green flag flew. However, over the first four laps he went side-by-side with the Brazilian. Collet eventually cleared the Norwegian on the back straight on lap 4. Myles Rowe moved himself up to P3.
James Roe had a good start, jumping up four spots, with Jordan Missig gaining three as he went for the high line off the start. Meanwhile Hailie Deegan went in the opposite direction, falling to 18th from 10th at the start.
On lap 23 Escotto and Koolen went at it, and there was gentle contact as they went side-by-side. The Dutchman eventually got the move done two laps later for 11th.
A swap for 5th place happened on lap 46 as Lochie Hughes used the high line to make a lovely pass on Josh Pierson for 5th.
Collet, Hauger, Rowe, de Alba, Hughes, Pierson, Hedge, Correa, Allaer and Koolen was the top 10 with 25 laps remaining.
Australian Lochie Hughes continued to move forward, sweeping around the outside of turn 1 on teammate Salvador de Alba with 20 laps to go 4th.
With the leaders ending up in traffic, Hughes kept motoring and overtook Rowe, Hauger and Collet in the space of two laps to go from 4th to 1st by using the high line to perfection. It was a masterclass in oval racing.
Myles Rowe dropped Dennis Hauger off the podium as he swept down the inside into turn 1 for P3, and he would go on to get Collet for P2. Just behind them Salvador de Alba got high into the marbles and was very lucky not to hit the wall. He fell behind Josh Pierson.
de Alba recovered from his error as he overtook Pierson and Hauger in the closing stages to end up in 4th.
However, Lochie Hughes was the master on Sunday as he won from Myles Rowe by 4.5s. Long time leader Caio Collet was 3rd. Hauger had to settle for P5 but crucially bagged good points for his title bid.
Full race results and classification from Indy NXT at St. Louis, Gateway
- Hughes
- Rowe
- Collet
- de Alba
- Hauger
- Pierson
- Hedge
- Correa
- Allaer
- Koolen
- Missig
- Murray
- Escotto
- Aron
- Hamilton Jr.
- Deegan
- Smith
- Roe
- Miller