Dennis Hauger enters the INDY NXT by Firestone season with aspirations of becoming the first rookie since Kyle Kirkwood in 2021 to win the championship. Hauger, like Kirkwood, is driving for Andretti Global and is keen on breaking the recent trend of second-year drivers claiming the title.
Hauger thinks his talent, combined with Andretti’s strong support, can propel him to the top in his debut season.
“My aim is to win the championship,” Hauger said. “I know there's a high level, there's still a lot of new tracks, ovals, is going to be a new thing. So, there's a lot of factors for me, but I think the genuine pace we've had in testing and the work we've done with the team, with my engineer, has been great, and feeling comfortable with the car and getting up to speed every time we go out.
“Definitely not there to finish second. I'm here to do the job and work hard with the team to achieve what we want. I'm not going to take it lightly, but I think we have an opportunity to do well.”
Hauger won the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2021 and secured five wins and 13 podium finishes in FIA Formula 2 – the last official ladder step before Formula One – in the last three seasons. The 21-year-old Norwegian also served as a Red Bull Junior Driver for six years and was named a Red Bull Reserve Driver for the 2022 and 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship season.
He acknowledges that while his achievements could have opened the door directly to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, he believes in respecting the development process.
Hauger comes from a place of understanding and respect for the racing world, not arrogance. He values the importance of progressing through the ladder system, proving himself at each stage, and appreciating the challenge and competition it brings to ensure readiness for the next step.
“I think doing what I'm doing now, trying to get a name, trying to prove myself and show the results over here is a good thing, and to do that in INDY NXT is it's a good opportunity for me,” he said.
Although Hauger hasn't raced on any of the tracks on the INDY NXT by Firestone calendar, including the 1.8-mile streets of St. Petersburg where the season opener takes place Sunday, March 2 (10 a.m. ET, FS1, INDYCAR Radio Network), he remains confident in his ability to challenge for a win in his first start.
Hauger’s optimism stems from his love for street courses. He’s also not intimidated by the unfamiliarity.
He also has tested on the tracks that follow St. Petersburg, including Barber Motorsports Park on May 4 and the 2.439-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on May 11, giving him valuable experience before tackling the full season.
“I think definitely, when you if you have a bad weekend, something happens, you know you got to push through the race, and you got to make every position count,” Hauger said. “But I think for us, what we've shown so far, I'm aiming to be on the top five, top three, every race. That's going to be the goal.
“So, I haven't thought about it too much, but just trying to get some small goals for every race weekend and totally around the season is the goal for me, and to be in that top five is definitely one of them all the time.”
Getting behind the wheel of an INDY NXT by Firestone car feels like a return to the joy of racing Hauger experienced as a child. The car's weight, around 1,410-1,430 pounds without fuel, is lighter than the 1,664-pound F2 car he drove last season, which also had 620 horsepower.
The difference in weight and handling brings back memories of the various race cars he drove as a young competitor, offering a dynamic feel. The lighter, more agile INDY NXT machinery allows Hauger to connect with the track in a way that excites him and fuels his passion for racing.
“It’s just such a different way of driving a car,” he said. “I'm enjoying it a lot. It's a bit of a lighter car, bit less power (compared to F2 machinery), but with that less weight, it's just making the car so much fun and a bit of movement is that you can play with it a lot more. And I think that suits my driving style really well. The tires are a bit different. You can push a lot more throughout the race. You don't have to save so much tires, that's a really cool thing. You have to push through the limits throughout the race. And you know, there's a lot more intense throughout the race. So, I think those elements makes the championship even cooler.”