Dale Coyne Racing has officially announced that Dennis Hauger will drive one of its Honda-powered entries during the 2026 IndyCar season. Hauger joins the team after clinching the INDY NXT championship in his first season on North American soil, competing for Andretti Global.
Hauger's arrival at DCR comes alongside a new technical partnership between Dale Coyne's team and Andretti Global, which will begin operating next year. This alliance will allow Hauger to have continuity with familiar personnel from his successful INDY NXT campaign.
Photo By INDYCAR
Hauger Caps Successful INDY NXT Season
Hauger completed a consistent campaign in 2025, amassing six wins, five additional podiums, and seven pole positions in 14 races. His consistency allowed him to secure the title one race early at Milwaukee.
Hauger set INDY NXT series records in Detroit, Mid-Ohio, and Milwaukee during the season, leading 301 laps in total. His performance makes him one of the most promising graduates from the development series into IndyCar.
Strong European Pedigree Before the Leap to America
Before his arrival in North America, Hauger built an ascending career in European categories. He won the Italian Formula 4 championship in 2019 and the FIA Formula 3 title in 2021, before competing for three seasons in Formula 2 between 2022 and 2024.
During his time in F2, he accumulated five wins and 13 podiums while being part of the Red Bull junior driver program. He even served as a reserve driver for the Formula 1 team during the 2023 season, before parting ways with the Austrian organization at the end of that year.
Photo By INDYCAR
First Test Scheduled at Mid-Ohio
Hauger will have his first taste of an IndyCar machine during the offseason test at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. His official debut will come at the season-opening round of the 2026 championship, scheduled for the streets of St. Petersburg between February 27 and March 1.
It's an honor to take my place on the grid with them in 2026. The progress the team has shown this year is really impressive. It will also be nice to see some familiar faces through the technical partnership with Andretti Global.
VeeKay and Abel Depart DCR as Team Overhauls 2026 Lineup
Dale Coyne Racing will make complete changes to its driver lineup for 2026. Neither Rinus VeeKay nor Jacob Abel will continue with the team after the 2025 season. VeeKay finished fourteenth in the championship with a second place in Toronto as his best result, while Abel completed a difficult season in 27th position in the standings.
Both drivers are exploring options outside of DCR for 2026, according to team sources. The organization expects to announce its second signing during the next month, thus completing its new lineup.
Dale Coyne, the team owner, expressed his satisfaction with the double acquisition: "This is a great opportunity for us here at DCR to add a talented driver and gain a strong technical partner in Andretti Global."
Upcoming Races
Drivers Standings 2026
| POS | PILOTO | PTS | ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Álex Palou | 53 | |
| 2 | Scott McLaughlin | 42 | |
| 3 | Christian Lundgaard | 36 | |
| 4 | Kyle Kirkwood | 32 | |
| 5 | Pato O'Ward | 30 | |
| 6 | Marcus Ericsson | 29 | |
| 7 | Josef Newgarden | 27 | |
| 8 | Romain Grosjean | 24 |
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