Dennis Hauger Dominates Detroit to Extend INDY NXT Points Lead

Dennis Hauger left nothing to chance on Sunday as he delivered a commanding performance at the INDY NXT by Firestone Detroit Grand Prix, leading every lap en route to his fourth win in five races this season. The Norwegian rookie continues to look every bit the championship favorite, and his latest triumph came in one of the wildest, most chaotic races of the year.

Starting from pole in the No. 28 Rental Group car, Hauger avoided the mayhem that unfolded behind him and executed a flawless drive through 45 laps of tight street racing. His winning margin: just over a second, following a tense one-lap shootout to the finish after a late caution wiped out his comfortable lead.

“The tires, they cool down really quickly, so that last lap was sketchy,” Hauger admitted post-race. “I think I heated up the tires nicely, and we got a good gap after the back straight. Super happy with that. We kept it clean, and we got a good win today.”

Opening-Lap Chaos

The race began with instant drama. As Hauger and teammate Lochie Hughes battled for the lead into Turn 1, a separate incident at Turn 4 sent Myles Rowe into a spin after being tagged from behind by Callum Hedge. The resulting pileup created a massive bottleneck, with nine cars caught up in the collision – many suffering terminal damage.

The track was briefly blocked, and the yellow flag flew almost immediately. Once the carnage was cleared and racing resumed on Lap 3, Hauger held steady out front while chaos continued to unfold behind him.

Midfield Battles and Front Wing Woes

Early on, Andretti Global’s Salvador de Alba emerged as Hauger’s closest threat, making an assertive move past Hughes for second on Lap 5. By Lap 10, de Alba was within half a second of the lead, but Hauger’s pace proved unrelenting.

As the battle for second through fifth intensified, contact became inevitable. De Alba and Hughes both sustained front-wing damage, with de Alba eventually forced to pit on Lap 24 due to a rubbing tire caused by a deep groove in his front right. His hopes of a podium finish faded with the stop.

Meanwhile, Hughes continued to struggle with reduced downforce. Caio Collet, the 2024 INDY NXT Rookie of the Year, took advantage and moved into second place on Lap 38. Hughes had no choice but to pit a lap later for a new nosecone, dropping him down the order.

Late Caution Sets Up One-Lap Shootout

By Lap 40, Hauger had stretched his lead to over 10 seconds, cruising comfortably toward the finish. But the race took another dramatic turn when Jordan Missig spun exiting Turn 2, triggering the second full-course caution of the day. Just like that, Hauger’s commanding lead vanished.

The field bunched up for a final restart at the end of Lap 44, leaving one lap to settle the race. With Collet and Juan Manuel Correa – who was having a career-best drive – lined up right behind him, Hauger had to be flawless.

And he was. Hauger got a perfect jump at the green flag, building a quick gap down the back straight and never giving his rivals a chance to strike.

Final Results and Takeaways

• 1st – Dennis Hauger (Andretti Global)
  Led all 45 laps; extended points lead to 38 over teammate Lochie Hughes
• 2nd – Caio Collet (HMD Motorsports)
  Strong racecraft earned him second place in the final laps
• 3rd – Juan Manuel Correa (HMD Motorsports)
  Claimed his first INDY NXT podium – a standout performance
• 4th – Josh Pierson (HMD Motorsports)
  Quietly consistent to round out a strong day for HMD
• 5th – Lochie Hughes (Andretti Global)
  Fought back to fifth after a front wing change

Only six of 20 drivers finished on the lead lap in what turned into a race of attrition. Despite the chaos, Hauger stayed clear of trouble from start to finish — something no other driver in the field could claim.

What’s Next: Oval Racing Begins

The INDY NXT grid now looks ahead to World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, on June 15. The event marks the beginning of the oval portion of the calendar, with four such races set to test the field’s adaptability and bravery.

For now, Dennis Hauger rides high atop the standings — calm, focused, and increasingly confident. If his form continues, the 2025 INDY NXT title might be his to lose.

written by Philipp Kraus / Media Credit: Penske Entertainment