Indy NXT | Race | Milwaukee | de Alba takes maiden win as Hauger seals the championship

Round 13 of the Indy NXT season is in the books as the race at Milwaukee has been run, full report and results here.
Photo Credit: Penske Entertainment | Paul Hurley
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Round 13 of the Indy NXT season is in the books as the race at Milwaukee has been run, full report and results below.

Dennis Hauger started on pole, with Caio Collet only 7th on the grid as he tried to keep the championship alive.

de Alba to the front

After going side-by-side through the first couple of laps, Salvador de Alba passed his teammate Dennis Hauger for the lead out of turn 2.

On his own, Jordan Missig had a huge slide out of the same corner and dropped to the rear of the field.

Following a disappointing qualifying, Caio Collet passed d’Orlando on lap 8 for P6. 8 laps later, he got alongside Myles Rowe but could not quite complete the move. The Brazilian persisted with the lower line on the following laps but Rowe continues to fend him off.

de Alba led Hauger, Hughes, Hedge, Rowe, Collet, d’Orlando, Roe, Aron and Smith at the end of lap 20. The Australian passed Pierson for P10 before the end of that tour.

Smith hits problems

Just before the halfway point of the race, Tommy Smith pitted after a huge save and somehow kept it out of the wall.

Meanwhile, Bryce Aron and James Roe had a cracking battle as they went side-by-side for multiple laps, with the CGR driver eventually coming out on top for P8.

First caution appears

The caution appeared on lap 47. Jack William Miller lost the car out of turn 2, finding the tyre barrier on the inside. The rear wing was damaged and his day was done.

de Alba, Hauger, Hughes, Hedge, Rowe, Collet, d’Orlando, Aron, Roe and Pierson was the top 10 on the restart.

As d’Orlando was caught napping on the restart by Aron and Roe, the CGR driver also passed Collet and Rowe in quick succession to take P5. Koolen got Pierson for 10th.

The battle for P10 ignited again. Max Taylor and Pierson both passed Koolen. The Dutch driver fell even further soon after as Missig also overtook him.

Jordan Missig continued his fantastic recovery, passing Pierson and Taylor to move into 10th.

Hamilton Jr. finds the wall

Getting lapped by the leaders, Davey Hamilton Jr. touched the wall in turn 2, sending him into the pits.

For the second time in the race, Missig had another huge moment in turn 2 again. Remarkably he saved it again. He fell to P13, however.

de Alba wins, Hauger takes the title

A perfect performance from Salvador de Alba gave the Mexican his first win in Indy NXT after leading almost from start to finish. His Andretti teammates Hauger and Hughes completed the podium.

A superb season from Dennis Hauger sees him clinch the title with a round to spare. Caio Collet could only manage a lonely P7 in the end.

Indy NXT Milwaukee race classification and results

  1. de Alba
  2. Hauger
  3. Hughes
  4. Hedge
  5. Aron
  6. Rowe
  7. Collet
  8. Roe
  9. d’Orlando
  10. Taylor
  11. Pierson
  12. Koolen
  13. Missig
  14. Deegan
  15. Hamilton Jr.
  16. Murray
  17. Miller
  18. Smith