When Dennis Hauger first turned laps at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course during the Chris Griffis Memorial Test in October 2024, he was simply a newcomer preparing for his first season in INDY NXT by Firestone. Less than a year later, the Norwegian returned to IMS as the 2025 INDY NXT champion, celebrated at the series’ annual Victory Lap event.
“Obviously unbelievable,” Hauger said. “It was not in my mind yet at that point. The goal became clearer and clearer throughout the season. We just kept working hard as a team, going into every race weekend with the same mindset. It’s been a great year. I’m really happy about it.”
A Rookie Season to Remember
Driving the No. 28 Nammo Dallara for Andretti Global, Hauger became the first rookie since Kyle Kirkwood in 2021 to win the championship. He clinched the crown one race early with a runner-up finish at Milwaukee, showing adaptability on ovals despite having never raced them before arriving in the U.S.
His 2025 stats were dominant:
- 6 wins in 14 races
- 11 podiums
- 13 top-fives
- 301 laps led
Hauger opened the season with back-to-back poles and victories at St. Petersburg and Barber, leading every lap. He went on to win four of the first five races, then added two more victories and four runner-up finishes in the back half to hold off rival Caio Collet, who carried more oval experience into his second INDY NXT season.
“I think the first five races we were really on it,” Hauger said. “Andretti did a really good job, and we were a step ahead of everyone else. The HMD guys, especially Caio, found something in the second half and closed the gap. It was a fight, but overall we can call it a good season, for sure.”
From Europe to America
Hauger arrived in INDY NXT with a decorated junior formula résumé:
- Italian F4 champion (2019)
- ADAC F4 runner-up (2019)
- FIA Formula 3 champion (2021)
- Five Formula 2 wins (2022–24)
- Six years as a Red Bull Junior, including F1 reserve duties (2022–23)
Despite his European pedigree, Hauger chose to reset his career in North America, seeking new tracks and less pressure. The move paid off immediately.
Joining Andretti’s Legacy
Hauger now joins a decorated list of Andretti INDY NXT champions, including Pato O’Ward (2018), Oliver Askew (2019), Kirkwood (2021) and Louis Foster (2024). Team manager Don Lambert compared Hauger’s raw speed to Kirkwood’s.
“At Mid-Ohio, which is a tough course, Dennis was fastest the first time he went there in just 14 laps,” Lambert said. “From then on, every test, almost every race, he’s first, second or third. You just kind of think he’s special.”
The Next Step: INDYCAR in 2026
As champion, Hauger secured a career advancement package that includes:
- An INDYCAR test at IMS
- A rookie test
- Participation in the Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Program
- Guaranteed entry into the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge
- One additional INDYCAR race in 2026
With momentum, pedigree, and Andretti’s backing, Hauger is poised to make the leap from INDY NXT standout to INDYCAR rookie in 2026.
