Latest news with #DennisHauger
Fox Sports
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Dennis Hauger Sets Quick Early Pace in First Detroit Practice
INDYCAR Just when it appeared Dennis Hauger might be mortal, he sent a message Friday afternoon to the rest of the INDY NXT by Firestone field during the final moments of the first practice for the Detroit Grand Prix. Series points leader Hauger turned the quickest lap of the opening session of the weekend, 1 minute, 6.8158 seconds, in the No. 28 Rental Group car fielded by Andretti Global on his final trip around the nine-turn, 1.645-mile street circuit in downtown Detroit. SEE: Practice Results 'Good run,' Hauger said. 'We were having some issue in the middle of practice, which wasn't ideal, and we didn't get to do as many laps as the others. But we still found good pace. Getting laps was the most important thing with a new track (for me), and a track like this, it's not easy to get on with quickly. 'A good start. We have to keep improving for tomorrow.' Those are ominous words for Hauger's rivals. He has won three of the first four races this season in the INDYCAR development series and is 15 points ahead of fellow Andretti Global series rookie Lochie Hughes atop the standings. Up next is practice at 8 a.m. ET Saturday, followed by qualifying at 11:30 a.m. (both sessions FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). The 45-lap race starts at 10:30 a.m. ET Sunday (FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). 2024 series Rookie of the Year Caio Collet ended up second at 1:07.1961 in the No. 76 HMD Motorsports machine, also ripping off his quickest lap late in the 45-minute session. Rookie Max Taylor, just 17 years old, sat atop the time sheets with one minute to go but ended up still an impressive third at 1:07.2210 in the No. 18 HMD Motorsports car. Series veteran Myles Rowe was fourth at 1:07.3022 in the No. 99 Abel/Force Indy machine. Veteran Salvador de Alba rounded out the top five at 1:07.3826 in the No. 27 Grupo Indi car of Andretti Global. That team put three drivers in the top six as Hughes' best lap was 1:07.4375 in the No. 26 McGinley Clinic/USF Pro Championship car. The unforgiving concrete walls around tight, bumpy street circuit in downtown Detroit collected their share of cars during the session. Andretti Global's James Roe brought out a red flag with heavy left-side contact in Turn 7 in his No. 29 Topcon machine, while Liam Sceats later made contact in Turn 4 in his No. 30 HMD Motorsports car shortly after the track opened following Roe's incident. Also making light contact without causing a red flag were rookie Tommy Smith in the No. 16 HMD Motorsports machine and veteran Niels Koolen in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing car. None of the drivers involved in the incidents was hurt. recommended
Fox Sports
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Indy Doubleheader Gives Rivals Two Chances To Catch Dennis Hauger
INDYCAR The 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone season continues this weekend with a doubleheader at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. The first race is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET Friday, followed by the second race at 1 p.m. ET Saturday. Both events will be broadcast live on FS1 and the INDYCAR Radio Network. SEE: Event Details Rookie phenom Dennis Hauger is undefeated so far in 2025, showcasing raw speed and composure. He led every lap in the March 2 season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg and May 4 at Barber Motorsports Park. The IMS road course is also the spot he made his maiden INDY NXT test. Can Hauger continue his dominance this weekend? Can Anyone Sweep Weekend? Achieving a weekend sweep in the INDY NXT doubleheader at IMS is a rare feat. The only driver to need the broom since the doubleheader format was introduced in 2014 is Colton Herta, who achieved the feat in 2018. Last year, Jacob Abel secured the pole position for both races, with Abel winning Race 1 and Louis Foster Race 2. First-Time Winner? The IMS road course has been a launching pad for breakthrough victories, with the first race of the INDY NXT by Firestone May doubleheader producing a first-time winner in three of the last six tries. Andretti Global's Robert Megennis started the trend in 2019, followed by Danial Frost of HMD Motorsports in 2022 and Juncos Hollinger Racing's Matteo Nannini in 2023. Given recent history, a first-time winner emerging in Friday's 35-lap race is a very real possibility. The field of 20 drivers has multiple candidates who can make it happen, with odds favoring a new name stepping up. Among the 20 drivers competing this weekend, only Hauger and Caio Collet have reached victory lane in an INDY NXT by Firestone race. Can Hauger, Andretti Global Keep Perfect Weekend Rolling? Based on recent performance and momentum, Andretti Global has the potential to sweep the weekend – but it's not a guarantee, as competition from others remains formidable. Hauger may have stiff competition from rookie teammate Lochie Hughes, who trails his teammate by 32 points in the standings. The Australian is consistent and a proven podium finisher, coming home runner-up in St. Petersburg and third at Barber. Hughes also boasts past success at IMS across multiple junior series. He finished second, second and first, respectively, during his 2023 USF 2000 rookie season. Last year, he finished third, second, and third, respectively, during his USF Pro 2000 championship-winning season. Veteran James Roe and sophomore driver Salvador de Alba add depth to the Andretti stable, with Roe finishing fourth in last year's second race. In addition, the team has swept the podium before, in 2022, and consistently places multiple drivers in the top three on the IMS road course. Andretti Global also has 11 wins in the last 13 INDY NXT by Firestone starts, dating back to Race 2 of last year's Indianapolis race weekend. Foster dominated the second half of last season en route to winning the title for Andretti Global. Rowe's Turn? Variability in track conditions, weather and race incidents can mix up the results across two days of racing, opening the door for someone new to secure victory. Myles Rowe could be a serious contender to break up a potential Andretti Global sweep this weekend. With 10 career starts on the IMS road course across various development series, Rowe is aware of the nuances of the 14-turn layout better than most in the field. Last year with HMD Motorsports, Rowe had the third-best average finish during this weekend, finishing fifth and seventh, respectively. The switch to the No. 99 ABEL Motorsports with Force Indy entry this season seems to be paying off. Rowe topped the Chris Griffis Open Test here last October and is the only non-Andretti driver to score top-five finishes in both races this season – finishing fourth in both St. Petersburg and Barber. That shows pace and consistency and is a good sign he's comfortable and fast. With Hauger setting the early pace, Rowe knows a strong weekend could cement him as a top challenger. He may not yet have the outright race-winning speed of Hauger, but his blend of experience, form and adaptability makes him a podium and possibly victory threat in either race – or both. Youth History Being Made HMD Motorsports rookie drives Nikita Johnson and Evagoras Papasavvas represent a compelling new youth wave in INDY NXT by Firestone, and both could have major breakout moments this weekend. At just 16, Johnson becomes the youngest-ever driver to compete in INDY NXT at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Johnson was runner-up in both USF2000 (2023) and USF Pro 2000 (2024) championships. He made his INDY NXT debut at his home race on the streets of St. Petersburg, finishing 11th. Papasavvas, 17, is a legitimate threat. He had a strong debut last weekend, qualifying third and finishing second. Confidence will be sky-high heading into IMS, and he is a dark horse for a podium or even a win. The teenager flashed excellent qualifying speed and racecraft, and HMD's setup and support give him the tools to contend. Track Specs: 2.439-mile, 14-turn natural road course Qualifying Record: Ed Jones, 1:14.6743, 117.583 mph, May 13, 2016 Push To Pass Parameters: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation. recommended
Fox Sports
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Dennis Hauger Manages Mixed Conditions Best To Win Pole at Barber
INDYCAR Dennis Hauger remained perfect this season in INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying, earning the pole for the Grand Prix of Alabama in mixed conditions Saturday at Barber Motorsports Park. Hauger, from Norway, grabbed the top starting spot for the race Sunday with a best lap of 1 minute, 12.7705 seconds in the No. 28 Rental Group car fielded by Andretti Global. He won the pole and the race in his debut in the INDYCAR development series March 2 at St. Petersburg, Florida. SEE: Qualifying Results Qualifying was a tale of two sessions in changing weather conditions. The 20-driver field was split into two groups for qualifying, and the first group of drivers all used Firestone Firehawk rain tires because of damp track conditions. The 17-turn, 2.3-mile natural terrain circuit dried enough for the second group to switch to the faster Firestone slick tires after their warmup lap, creating a big discrepancy in times between the two groups. But series rules state the grid is set by alternating the quickest times in each group, so Caio Collet will join Hauger on the front row even though his top time of 1:24.8394 in the No. 76 HMD Motorsports car from the wetter first group was more than 12 seconds slower than Hauger's best. That trend continued throughout the lineup for the 20-car field, as the starters in the odd-numbered grid spots all came from the drier, faster second group while all even-numbered starters qualified in the wetter, slower first group. Hauger already was on top when he improved upon his best time on his last lap. Every driver in the second group was given one final flying lap after rookie Max Taylor spun off track late in the session in the No. 18 HMD Motorsports car, losing his two quickest laps for triggering a red flag during qualifying. 'It was looking like it was drying up, but you don't really know before you go out there,' Hauger said. 'After the first lap, I was like, 'We've to pit for a sticker (slicks) run.' After we did that, I think most people did in the end. 'It was a good run, a good last lap. I managed to maximize it. The Andretti team and 28 crew have had a good weekend so far and are looking forward to starting on pole tomorrow.' The 35-lap race starts at 11:30 a.m. ET Sunday (FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). Evagoras Papasavvas will start third in his series debut in the No. 24 HMD Motorsports machine. Papasavvas, 17, turned a top lap of 1:13.3669 in the second group. Lochie Hughes of Andretti Global will join him in the second row after qualifying fourth at 1:25.4437 in the No. 26 McGinley Clinic/USF Pro Championship car of Andretti Global. Myles Rowe qualified fifth at 1:13.4377 in the No. 99 Abel/Force Indy machine of Abel Motorsports. Bryce Aron will start sixth after his run of 1:25.5923 in the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing car. recommended
Fox Sports
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Dennis Hauger Tops Again; Andretti Dominates Damp Barber Practice
INDYCAR He needed the last lap to pull it off, but Dennis Hauger remains untouchable so far this weekend in INDY NXT by Firestone competition at Barber Motorsports Park. Hauger led the pre-qualifying practice Saturday morning for the Grand Prix of Alabama, turning his best lap of 1 minute, 12.7743 seconds in the No. 28 Rental Group car fielded by Andretti Global on his final trip around the 17-turn, 2.3-mile natural-terrain road course. SEE: Practice Results Norwegian rookie Hauger and the rest of the 20-driver field coped with changing track conditions during the 45-minute session. The track started damp, with all drivers on Firestone Firehawk rain tires. Then, as the circuit dried, more and more drivers switched to slicks to find speed. 'It was just about improving every lap out there,' Hauger said. 'The track was just getting drier and drier. There were some wet spots out there and there. Happy with the run. We did it the right way with the session and the track just drying out. It was a fun run.' Qualifying is next at 1:30 p.m. ET Saturday. The 35-lap race starts at 11:30 a.m. ET Sunday. FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network will provide live coverage of both sessions. Brazilian veteran Caio Collet was second quickest in the morning practice with his best lap of 1:12.8753 in the No. 76 HMD Motorsports car. Collet gained ground on Friday practice leader Hauger, as he trailed the series leader by three-tenths of a second after the first practice Friday. Salvador de Alba was third at 1:13.0559 in the No. 27 Grupo Indi car, followed by teammate Lochie Hughes at 1:13.0722 in the No. 26 McGinley Clinic/USF Pro Championship machine. Andretti Global boasted three of the top four drivers on the final time sheet. Myles Rowe rounded out the top five at 1:13.1207 in the No. 99 Abel/Force Indy car of Abel Motorsports. recommended
Fox Sports
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Dennis Hauger Leads Fast Andretti Pack in Opening Barber Practice
INDYCAR Dennis Hauger continued the impressive start to his INDY NXT by Firestone career by leading practice Friday for the Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park. Andretti Global rookie Hauger, from Norway, was quickest in the 45-minute session with a lap of 1 minute, 12.1621 seconds in the No. 28 Rental Group car. Formula 2 race winner Hauger won the pole and led every lap of the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 2. SEE: Practice Results 'It was a good run,' Hauger said. 'As a team, we seem strong today. I think we still have some things to work on and feel like there was still some time in there for me. But a good start, and it's good to see we sort of left off where we ended in St. Pete.' Caio Collet, in his second season in the INDYCAR development series, was second at 1:12.4694 in the No. 76 HMD Motorsports machine. Veteran teammate Josh Pierson ended up third at 1:12.7627 in the No. 14 HMD Motorsports car. Rookie Lochie Hughes clocked in fourth at 1:12.7689 in the No. 26 McGinley Clinic/USF Pro Championship car. Hughes finished second to Andretti Global teammate Hauger in his series debut at St. Petersburg. Andretti Global ended up with all four of its drivers in the top six of the time sheets. Veteran Salvador de Alba was the third Andretti driver in the top five, as he ended up at 1:12.7865 in the No. 27 Grupo Indi car. Andretti Global veteran James Roe was sixth at 1:12.8097 in the No. 29 Topcon machine. There was one incident with contact that triggered a red flag 19 minutes into the session. Rookie Evagoras Papasavvas, making his first series start, nosed into the tire barrier in the final turn of the 17-turn, 2.3-mile natural-terrain road course in the No. 24 HMD Motorsports car. He was unhurt. Up next is another practice at 10:10 a.m. ET Saturday, followed by qualifying at 1:30 p.m. ET. FS1, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network will provide live coverage of both sessions. recommended
