Hauger keen to maintain Andretti relationship in IndyCar search

Credit: Chris Jones

Indy NXT champion Dennis Hauger is working hard to try and find a landing spot in the IndyCar field for the 2026 campaign as the driver market ramps up.

The Norwegian driver explored IndyCar for 2025 upon deciding to pivot away from FIA Formula 2, despite having offers on the table to continue on the Formula One ladder. But with budget a limiting factor in moving directly to IndyCar, he opted to spend a season adapting to racing in North America in Indy NXT.

Now with the $850,000 champion’s scholarship in hand after an emphatic rookie season in the premier feeder series, IndyCar could well be on Hauger’s horizon.

“Obviously that’s what I’m working towards,” Hauger told DIVEBOMB. “That’s the goal for 2026, to be in an IndyCar seat and be on the grid and be at the Indy 500. That’s the dream and that’s the goal. So obviously nothing I can say right now that’s going to blow you away but that’s what we’re working towards and hopefully we can achieve it.”

Hauger moved stateside for the 2025 season as 2021 FIA Formula 3 champion and a multiple race winner across three years in F2. He went on to oust sophomore Caio Collet by 72 points to win the Indy NXT title at the first attempt.

His stellar season started with four wins in the first five races, with the 14-race campaign ending with six victories and a total of 11 podiums, including four runner-up results. Hauger wrapped up the championship with one race to spare.

Credit: Chris Owens

After Louis Foster’s success in 2024, it marked a second successive title for the Andretti Global team. And if it was a possibility, Hauger would be keen to maintain a bond with Andretti’s IndyCar operation with a view to a future drive with the team.

“For sure that would be something that would be really cool and a big honour obviously,” Hauger said. “That’s something they did with Colton [Herta]. That’s something they did with [Kyle] Kirkwood, which is one of the best guys on the IndyCar grid right now. 

“So if I get that opportunity, that would be amazing. And that would be a really good part of my learning progress as well. So obviously we’ll see what’s going to happen but that would be probably optimal for me and my step up.”

There is no immediate opening at Andretti for Hauger, with Kyle Kirkwood and Marcus Ericsson confirmed to be returning and Will Power replacing the outgoing Colton Herta.

But as recently as 2022, Kirkwood spent his rookie season with AJ Foyt Racing having won in Indy Lights with Andretti the year prior. He moved to Andretti the following season, taking two race wins, and in 2025 is coming off the back of a career-best championship result of fourth - with three wins - in his third year with Andretti.

Barring any surprises, IndyCar’s regular front-running teams have their lineups secure for next season. In all likelihood, should he get a seat, one would imagine Hauger would spend his rookie season with the likes of Dale Coyne Racing - famed for nurturing young drivers.

Credit: Travis Hinkle

In any case, the 22-year-old believes he is ready to make the step up.

“I feel as prepared as possible,” Hauger said. “I’m not sure how much of Formula 2 racing helped me into this season; experience and being confident with aerodynamics and how to use it helped me a bit. But the cars are so different, the tracks are so different… there is literally almost nothing that’s the same. 

“I could say I have so much more experience than everyone but I’m still [one of] the youngest [guys] in the top eight or something in the championship this year. There were quite a few new things, but for me getting up to IndyCar, I feel as prepared as possible. 

“I learned a lot of the tracks this year and got really into a good rhythm with them. I learned a lot about the ovals, which is obviously a really important part of racing over there. And also learning, for example, Pirelli tyres and Firestone tyres - how they work in their own way and how to manage the tyres - is something I can bring into a potential IndyCar seat. 

“I feel like there’s things from different parts of my career which I can take into it and I hope I can obviously extract the most of it if I get the opportunity.”

Hauger did not record a victory in his four oval outings in Indy NXT but picked up top-five results in each of the rounds, including one third and two second-place finishes. His comfort grew across the unfamiliar discipline as the season progressed.

Credit: Chris Jones

He also experienced the Indianapolis 500 in May, watching on with Andretti from the sidelines. Should he secure an IndyCar drive, he is raring to go at the Speedway too.

“It’s honestly the craziest thing I’ve ever seen on a track,” Hauger said. “Just seeing the amount of people so early in the morning getting ready for the race and so many people camping and getting into the track and just the atmosphere. 

“You can feel how intense the teams are. The amount of time everyone puts into one day, which is the Indy 500, and using all their energy to achieve their goal, which is winning it, you can just feel it in the whole track. 

“That was something I’ll remember forever and it would be crazy to be on that grid. I’ve never really been scared of speed. I don’t think you should be as a racing driver either - but people have different emotions and different first impressions when they get on track. 

“So we’ll see when that happens. But I’m just looking forward to see how it feels around there. Qualifying modes at the Indy 500 just look sick so I’m looking forward to it.”