Dennis Hauger was named Oct. 18 to Andretti Global as one of its four drivers for the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone season
Hours later, he was the second-quickest driver in the Chris Griffis Memorial Test on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course despite barely knowing anyone on the team. Sophomore driver Myles Rowe, in the No. 99 Abel Motorsports with Force Indy entry, was the only quicker driver.
“I met everyone yesterday,” he said during the test session. “To be honest, I didn’t know anyone except Lochie (Hughes). I did a karting race against him when I was 12 and he was 13 in Italy. It’s been nine years since I saw him last.”
First-year drivers Hughes and Hauger join veterans James Roe and Salvador de Alba Jr. with Andretti Global next season. Each is a strong championship contender for 2025.
Wrestling the No. 28 entry around the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course last fall brought joy to Hauger, 21.
“Just getting back to something that’s moving a bit more and being a bit more alive, especially on the rear, was enjoyable,” he said.
Norwegian Hauger comes to the INDYCAR development series after three seasons in FIA Formula 2, the last step before Formula One. He earned five victories and 13 podium finishes.
The FIA Formula 2 car has 620 horsepower compared to 450 of the INDY NXT by Firestone. But the F2 car doesn’t allow a driver to attack a corner by sliding the tires like INDY NXT machinery can.
The rapid pace displayed by Hauger was due to the INDY NXT car suiting his driving style.
“It's such a different way of driving the car,” he said. “It's a lot more reactive. You can move around a bit more. I work with the rear, which I enjoy a bit more on the loose side. I don't mind that, but it was quite different. So, obviously, taking it step by step. But was a was a fun, fun morning.”
Hauger learned that style when he was first introduced to racing as a toddler. His dad drove in rallies and hill climbs, and Hauger tagged along as a 1-year-old. A year later while still in diapers with a pacifier hanging out of his mouth, Hauger was driving a mini-car around the fields near his family home outside of Oslo, Norway.
He was racing motocross at age 4 and in a go-kart by 5.
Hauger made his open-wheel racing debut in 2018 in the F4 British Championship and was named a Red Bull Junior Driver. The next year saw Hauger win the Italian F4 Championship, finish second in the ADAC Formula 4 Championship and run two races in the Euroformula Open Championship.
Hauger advanced into the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2020 and won the championship in 2021. Hauger moved up to the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2022. He 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.
Future opportunity was the reasoning to change trajectories toward an NTT INDYCAR SERIES path over a Formula One.
“Looking at the series and the kind of opportunity it gives for the for the young drivers,” he said. “I'm still only 21, so I'm not the oldest guy in the field yet. It's a good opportunity. If you do well, you sort of have the chance to move up. With Andretti, they have such a cool history, and it's such a great team.
“When I got the opportunity to go with them this year, it was a no-brainer. So, I'm really excited for what we can do together.”
Hauger doesn’t lose focus on where he came from and the journey to INDY NXT. Racing is all he’s ever known, and the sacrifices made to get to this point aren’t lost.
A quote on his helmet serves as inspiration every time he puts it on: “I never lose. Either I win or I learn.”