Test Patterns: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Andretti Global reaffirmed its position as the team to beat early this season during an INDY NXT by Firestone group test April 22 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course near Columbus, Ohio.
The reigning champions, which fielded the car last season for title winner Louis Foster, opened this season March 2 in St. Petersburg, Florida, with a victory by series rookie Dennis Hauger and a runner-up result by his rookie teammate Lochie Hughes.
Not much changed in the test Tuesday with 21 car-driver combinations on the 13-turn, 2.258-mile natural terrain road course at Mid-Ohio. While times and speeds are not officially released from private tests, various media reports and social media feeds have given an opportunity to try to make some itemized deductions:
Hauger Continues To Reign
Formula 2 race winner Hauger opened the 2025 season by winning at St. Petersburg from the pole, leading all 44 laps. His dominance continued Tuesday in testing at Mid-Ohio, as his No. 28 Rental Group car was more than three-tenths clear of his closest competitor, veteran Callum Hedge of ABEL Motorsports.
Hauger, from Norway, entered this season with title-or-bust aspirations considering his three seasons of experience in F2, the last ladder rung before Formula One. But there always are wrinkles to iron, such as learning a new car and tracks.
So far, Hauger has steamed out all wrinkles and is the driver to beat entering the next round, the Grand Prix of Alabama on Sunday, May 4 at Barber Motorsports Park (11:30 a.m. ET, FS1, INDYCAR Radio Network).
Hedge Again Quick in Testing; Race Pace Up Next
Hedge proved again he is plenty quick against the clock in testing. He led the test in early February at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and was second here Tuesday, slightly more than three-tenths of a second behind Hauger.
But Hedge needs to convert that pace into results if he wants to stay in touch with Hauger in the title race. Hedge qualified a disappointing 12th and placed eighth in St. Petersburg in the No. 17 ABEL Motorsports entry, leaving him already 30 points behind Hauger.
Hughes Quietly Getting It Done
In almost any other year, 2024 USF Pro 2000 champion Lochie Hughes would be the talk of the paddock after finishing second in his series debut at St. Petersburg and ending up third at this test.
But Hughes also was joined this season at Andretti Global by Hauger, who has grabbed the INDYCAR development series by the scruff of the neck with his testing and race pace.
Still, Hughes continues to quietly impress in his No. 26 McGinley Clinic/USF Pro Championship car. He finished second to Hauger in the St. Petersburg race and was third quickest at this test, less than a tenth of a second behind Hedge and slightly more than four-tenths behind leader Hauger.
Hughes is finding the kind of consistency that will let him contend for more podium finishes and victories if his rapid teammate Hauger falters any weekend.
Midfield Tightens
While Hauger held an impressive gap of more than three-tenths of a second over the field, margins were tighter deeper in the pack.
Just slightly over three-tenths of a second separated the No. 99 ABEL Motorsports/Force Indy car of Myles Rowe in fifth and the No. 29 Topcon machine fielded by Andretti Global and driven by James Roe.
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