Dennis Hauger on top at IMS IndyCar Series test

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Every October, IndyCar hosts its series test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway among other road courses. In 2025, we see 5 IndyCar rookies take on the IMS IndyCar Series test. The returning drivers are eight-time race winner Alexander Rossi and his Ed Carpenter Racing teammate Christian Rasmussen. A total of seven drivers were out on today’s IndyCar Series test to try out the hybrid system and get in some qualifying laps.

Indy NXT Drivers putting in work

The Dale Coyne Racing rookie, Dennis Hauger, went to the top of the timing charts with a qualifying lap of 1m10.768s. This was the second IndyCar outing for Hauger after winning the Indy NXT in 2025. Hauger had his first IndyCar Series test at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on October 1st where he placed third.

He was joined by fellow Indy NXT driver, Caio Collet, on both courses. Collet finished fourth (1.11.048s) in AJ Foyt’s No. 4 Chevy at the IMS IndyCar Series test. Collet used every last minute of the day to get in a maximum of 83 laps.

Veterans beside rookies

Behind the leader was Rossi in the No. 20 Chevy (1m10.858s). The 34-year-old veteran is in his 10th season of the NTT IndyCar Series but made the move to ECR after spending the last two seasons at Arrow McLaren. He was keen to get some experience with his new team and get a handle on any new hybrid technology.

ECR’s second driver, Christian Rasmussen, has only been in NTT IndyCar for two years. He won his first IndyCar victory at the Milwaukee Mile in August 2025. Rasmussen ran out of time in his session, getting cut short with only 31 laps around the IMS circuit. He rounded out the bottom in sixth (1m11.493s) at the IMS IndyCar Series Test.

Schumacher races in IndyCar

F1 veteran Mick Schumacher got some first-hand experience behind the wheel of Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s No. 75 Honda in his first IndyCar Series test. Schumacher was previously an F1 Haas driver but switched to a reserve driver role with Mercedes after getting dropped in 2023.

He has been a reserve driver for several F1 teams in the last two years and joined the World Endurance Championship, but is on the hunt for a new single-seater sport. The RLL driver had a strong debut in the IndyCar Series test, coming in third at 1m10.980s.

Andretti drivers take on IMS

Lochie Hughes was fifth (1m11.354s) in a No. 98 Honda at the IMS IndyCar Series test. Hughes has already raced under Andretti Global in the 2025 Indy NXT series and will continue racing there in 2026. He was also named the reserve driver for Andretti’s NTT IndyCar Series.

James Roe is a fellow Andretti driver, racing with the team for the last three seasons of Indy NXT. He came in last (1m11.600s) with Juncos Hollinger Racing. Unfortunately for Hughes and Roe, they have no additional IndyCar Series tests scheduled this year. They will have to hope that their performance on the IMS IndyCar Series track was enough to propel them into their next career move.