Hauger Dominates in Detroit Mayhem to Extend INDY NXT Points Lead

Dennis Hauger delivered a clinical drive through chaos to win Sunday’s INDY NXT by Firestone race on the streets of downtown Detroit, leading every lap to claim his fourth victory in five races this season.

Starting from pole in the No. 28 Rental Group car, the Norwegian stayed clear of opening-lap carnage and held his lead through multiple challenges, including a one-lap shootout to the finish. He crossed the line 1.0460 seconds ahead of Caio Collet in the No. 76 HMD Motorsports car.

“The tires, they cool down really quickly, so that last lap was sketchy,” Hauger said. “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.”

The result extends Hauger’s lead in the standings to 38 points over teammate Lochie Hughes, the only other race winner so far this season.

Rookie Juan Manuel Correa secured a career-best third place in the No. 39 HMD Motorsports car. His previous best finish was 14th during the second race of last month’s Indianapolis road course doubleheader.

Veteran Josh Pierson added to a strong showing for HMD, finishing fourth in the team’s No. 16 car, while Hughes recovered to fifth after a late-race pit stop to replace a damaged front wing on his No. 26 McGinley Clinic/USF Pro Championship entry.

Only six of the 20 starters finished on the lead lap after a chaotic start saw a major incident in Turn 4. Myles Rowe was spun by contact from Callum Hedge, triggering a chain-reaction crash that involved nine cars and forced the first caution of the race.

At the front, Hauger held off Hughes and Andretti Global teammate Salvador de Alba on the Lap 3 restart and gradually began to build a gap. De Alba moved into second on Lap 5 and stayed close through the early phase, running just four-tenths behind Hauger by Lap 10.

But as de Alba, Hughes, Collet and Correa fought over the remaining podium places, the tight street circuit began to take its toll. Contact damaged the front wings of both de Alba and Hughes, compromising their pace. De Alba was forced to pit on Lap 24 with tyre damage caused by the wing rubbing his right front Firestone, while Hughes lost second to Collet on Lap 38 and pitted a lap later for repairs.

By Lap 40, Hauger had opened up a double-digit lead and looked set for a comfortable cruise to the flag. However, Jordan Missig’s spin exiting Turn 2 on Lap 41 brought out a late caution and bunched the field for a one-lap dash to the finish.

Despite the pressure, Hauger held firm at the restart and was never seriously challenged by Collet or Correa.

The series now heads to oval territory for the first time this season, with the next round set for Sunday, 15 June at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois – just outside St. Louis.

Source: INDYCAR - INDY NXT
Image Credit: INDYCAR : Penske Entertainment: Joe Skibinski | M133443