2025 Indy NXT champion Dennis Hauger looks to have “a good start” to his first full IndyCar season in 2026.
Dennis Hauger is entering the 2026 IndyCar season after clinching the Indy NXT championship in his rookie year. The Norwegian driver is set to pilot the No. 19 car for Dale Coyne Racing. The 22-year-old hopes to build on his skills and success from Indy NXT to fight for Rookie of the Year.
Hauger breaking into IndyCar
The DCR driver broke into IndyCar after taking the Indy NXT championship in one year with the Andretti. Although he made an impressive start to life in the United States, Hauger still needs to perform to keep his new IndyCar seat beyond 2026.
When asked about his chances of staying in IndyCar long-term, Hauger told Pit Debrief and other media outlets he is pretty calm.
“I’m not worried, to be honest. I think from what we showed in testing, we know we can do some good lap times. We have speed. I think for sure some tracks it’s going to be better than others. That’s just how it is.”
The Norwegian driver excelled in Indy NXT with Andretti. With a technical partnership with the legendary team in IndyCar, Hauger is ready to get to work with DCR.
“I think the work we’ve done with Dale Coyne Racing, also with the partnership with Andretti, I think we’ll be good. It’s just about doing the work as I’ve done in Indy NXT, doing the prep work, staying on top of things. Keep my feet on the ground and just do the work, I think that’s going to be the main thing. We’ll see how we get on.”
The 22-year-old sees his future in IndyCar; thus, his first full season in the series is important. With this in mind, Hauger hopes to “have a good start to the season in St. Pete” to start his rookie season right.
“Obviously I want to stay in the IndyCar series and do good. Hopefully we can have a good start to the season in St. Pete and take it from there.”
Hauger getting used to ovals
With one racing season doing ovals under his belt, Dennis Hauger aims to improve his performance on ovals. Coming from F2 and F3, ovals are the one track type that the DCR driver tries to get “as much experience as possible.”
“For me the main thing is the ovals for sure, just trying to get as much experience as possible on them and learn as much as possible from the team and from everyone around. I feel like we’re in a good window for some tracks and some tracks we might have to work a bit more as a team to get further up.”
With the 2026 season starting with a street course in St. Petersburg, FL, Hauger is confident that he will perform in a track he feels “pretty confident” in.
“Again, we’ll see how we get on once we start the season. I’m feeling good about starting on the street course, for example. I feel pretty confident there. Hopefully we can kick it off on the right foot.”
Rookie of the Year competion
Hauger is entering 2026 with other rookies in his class, Caio Collet and Mick Schumacher. With two other drivers in contention for Rookie of the Year, the Norwegian is confident in this fight with his new skills and experience on ovals.
When asked about his Rookie of the Year competition, Hauger shared, “Yeah, I mean, two good drivers for sure. I was fighting with Caio in Indy NXT last year. He’s a good driver. Also I know I can beat him. Hopefully I’ll keep doing that this year.
“Mick, obviously he’s got tons of experience. He knows what he’s doing, coming from F1, coming from a hypercar. Yeah, I’m sure he will do a good job. For sure the ovals and stuff will be new for him, as it will for me, but a bit less for me obviously with the Indy NXT season behind me.”
The DCR driver is confident that he can take Rookie of the Year. He is ready to take on the challenge.
“I think we can all do pretty good stuff. Hopefully I can be on top of the three.”
Dennis Hauger looking foward to the races ahead in the 2026 IndyCar season
The 22-year-old rookie is excited to race at new tracks not featured on the Indy NXT calendar, especially the infamous Indy 500.
When asked about venues he is excited to race for, Hauger noted, “I mean, I’ve gone to most of them last year. For me it will be fun to go to the ones I haven’t been yet. Indy 500 in particular obviously (smiling). That would be insane and a dream come true.”
The Norwegian is also looking forward to street courses like the debut street race in Arlington and the exciting Long Beach race.
“Also I think the Arlington race looks really cool on the calendar. Seems like a cool track as well. Long Beach, for example, is one of the tracks I actually went to last year and I was watching. I didn’t race. I was watching on the side. Yeah, there’s a few in there that will be fun to get to.”
