“Norwegian Nightmare” Living His INDYCAR Dream
Photo by Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment
By Dennis Krause
This weekend’s Honda Indy 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course will be familiar territory for NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookie Dennis Hauger.
The driver of the No. 19 Ault Blockchain Honda for Dale Coyne Racing won last year’s INDY NXT by Firestone race at Mid-Ohio on his way to claiming the series championship. It’s also where Hauger first had an INDYCAR test last fall and was among the quickest drivers in a test session last week. Put together, it’s giving the “Norwegian Nightmare” full confidence heading into this weekend.
“Yeah, for sure,” Hauger agreed. “I had a good race there last year winning the INDY NXT race, and my first INDYCAR test ever was at Mid-Ohio, which I think was good for me also coming into the test we had last week and just already knowing a bit of how everything feels there, and we can sort of continue and build a little bit from it.
“I think we were having a really positive day, probably the best day I've had in the car all year, I would say. So I felt really good, and hopefully that's something we can carry on to the race weekend.
“Obviously it's always a bit different with weather, the rubber and how everything changes in a race week, but I think we can go into the weekend with some confidence. I'm really keen to see what we can do.”
Photo by Paul Hurley/Penske Entertainment
With a couple of top ten finishes already this season, Hauger is growing more and more confident each race weekend.
“Yeah, I feel like this year has just been filled with potential,” Hauger said. “We've had some issues here and there that's kind of not going our direction, but at times we've had some really good pace. Long Beach we came from 19th to 11th, and Indy Road Course 24th to eighth. St. Pete as well, a top 10.
“But I feel like we've sort of had some good chances, as well, at times, and there's been stuff that's kind of taken it out of my hands on that side. Overall really happy with the season so far. I've learned so much, and just thinking my mindset in race one how little I actually knew in terms of race experience and how much I know now is just a confidence boost for me knowing more and kind of having a bigger, sort of, package in my mind in terms of what I need to do to be the best I can out there.”
Adding to his motivation, Hauger admits winning the rookie of the year award is something on his radar.
“I mean, if I was fighting for a championship, like overall championship, I would think about it, right? So why wouldn't I think about the rookie championship, as well? It only makes sense. If I can't win the championship, I might as well try and win the rookie one.
“To be honest, I've not focused on it too much. Every weekend I just try to get the most out of myself and try and get good results. The results we get and everything we do throughout the weekend is just an end result of the point standings and everything. Just taking it step by step in that sense and not really focusing on that specifically, but for sure you're only going to be a rookie once, so I want to get that for sure.”
As the second half of the INDYCAR season gets underway, Hauger is happy with how things are going, but he’s a racer and a racer always wants more.
“I'm still just going race to race,” Hauger stated. “Goal number one for me this year was finish every race, which I have, except obviously the fuel cell leak we had in Gateway which was kind of out of my control. But other than that, it's been clean.
“Yeah, obviously I'm pretty happy with how we've been building it up so far, but I definitely want more than that. I don't want to fight midfield. I want to be up there fighting for podiums and fighting for top 5s and wins.
“We have a group that's been changing throughout the year, and hopefully now we have a bit more of a consistent group that we can build from.
“I think Mid-Ohio will be a perfect way to try and build some momentum, build some good results for the team, and our first priority, I think, is trying to have a clean week and as a team, as well. We always seem to have some bumps along the way throughout the weekend, so that's priority number one as a team, and for me to just maximize what we get out of it, as well, is important.
Photo by Aaron Skillman/Penske Entertainment
“I feel like I've kind of done that. Looking at Romain (Grosjean), as well, my teammate. I know he's a quick guy. When he was with Andretti, for example, he had three or four pole positions, so he's super quick. He knows what he's doing, and I feel like I've been matching him at times and getting faster.
“Yeah, there's results I want to get, and I want to chase top 10s regularly, and I feel like we can do that. Obviously if we can get some even better results, that would be awesome. Yeah, I definitely want more.”
For Hauger, specifically, that would mean a podium finish.
“I want to get a podium. I want to be on the podium. I want to get a trophy, obviously preferably on the top. But if I get a podium, as well, that would be great.
“For me, as well as I think the team, obviously limiting mistakes, and I think the biggest thing for us has been qualifying,” Hauger continued. “We've been struggling a bit in qualifying at times, especially on road courses.
“Getting a bit better there can help us in the race because we do have pretty good race pace, I think, at times. That's something to work on for me, as well.
“I know I can do something well when we put things together. Hopefully we can try and get some consistency now as we go. That will be important for the rookie standings, as well.”
Should he get a podium finish this season, will Hauger do the Norway Row popularized by Norwegian fans attending this year’s World Cup that’s gone viral on social media?
“I already thought about it,” said Hauger.” That's my only goal this year, get on the podium so I can row back to Norway and celebrate with that. That would be so fun.”
Dennis Krause has spent decades covering all forms of motorsports, including over 40 Indianapolis 500s, with stints at WIBA Radio, PIT PASS - Radio’s Premier Motorsports Magazine and Motorsports Minute.