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Hauger Gains Seven Positions Late to Secure P13 in Detroit
Detroit, Michigan — Sunday, May 31, 2026 — Dennis Hauger (No. 19 Ault Blockchain Honda) maximized his day, bringing home a car that struggled to find the right balance throughout the race and finishing in 13th position. Romain Grosjean (No. 18 Bmax Honda) faced a similar finish, before being hit from behind late in the race, ending his day prematurely and resulting in a 20th-place finish. Dennis Hauger – No. 19 Ault Blockchain Honda, Dale Coyne Racing Starting from 15th, Hauger maintained his position through the opening lap. Pitting under the caution on lap 10, Hauger took on a full load of fuel and a fresh set of Firestone Alternate tires. After running until lap 30, Hauger returned to pit road from 19th position for a set of Firestone Primary tires. Hauger was able to stretch that set until the caution on lap 66, when he made his final pit stop of the race, taking on another set of Firestone Primary tires and enough fuel to reach the finish. Following the final round of pit stops, Hauger restarted in 20th when the green flag waved. As competitors around him began to struggle with tire wear or became involved in incidents, Hauger methodically worked his way through the field. The rookie displayed the patience and racecraft of a veteran, capitalizing on opportunities as they arose. When the checkered flag flew, Hauger had climbed to 13th place, gaining seven positions from his final pit stop of the day. Post-Race Quote: "I don't want to be too happy with 13th, but honestly, for the pace we had, that's a really good day for us, especially in the points battles we're fighting. I think if we can get 13th on our bad days, then we can really impress everyone on our good days. We've been flat out lately, but I'm excited to get back on an oval at St. Louis. I ran an Indy NXT race there last year, but I've learned so much about oval racing since then, and I can't wait to go back." Romain Grosjean – No. 18 Bmax Honda, Dale Coyne Racing Starting 20th, the veteran driver focused on keeping his nose clean through the opening laps. Despite the challenges, Grosjean completed the first lap in 19th, gaining a position. By staying out during the caution on lap 10, Grosjean moved into 17th place. Pitting on lap 31, Grosjean took on a full load of fuel and switched to Firestone Alternate tires. Running that set all the way until lap 66, Grosjean struggled with grip and balance throughout the stint but managed to defend against competitors on fresher tires. During the caution on lap 66, Grosjean made what was intended to be his final stop of the race, taking on another set of Firestone Alternate tires and a full load of fuel. Capitalizing on mistakes from others, Grosjean advanced to 15th position and appeared on track for a promising finish. However, while battling for position late in the race, Grosjean was hit from behind by another competitor. The resulting damage proved race-ending, forcing him to retire to the pits and settle for a 20th-place finish. Post-Race Quote: "This one hurts. This car wasn't at its best today, but we were making it work for a decent finish inside the top 15, and then it gets ruined by being hit from behind. I'm devastated because we lost valuable points, and that hurts. We struggled for grip all day and lacked pace, but we were on the right strategy to finish the race strongly. I want to thank everyone on my crew. They've been working incredibly hard, and after a strong run at the 500, they deserve much more than this. We'll take a few days, regroup, and try again in St. Louis."
Grosjean, Hauger Deliver Standout Drives in 2026 Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis — Sunday, May 24, 2026 — Romain Grosjean (No. 18 Bmax Honda) found himself P4 coming to a restart with eight laps to go and a chance to win, ultimately becoming the Jostens Biggest Mover of the race after gaining 15 positions While teammate Dennis Hauger (No. 19 Ault Blockchain Honda) found himself running up front in his rookie attempt before a speeding penalty while running third forced the Norwegian driver to drive through the pits. Romain Grosjean – No. 18 Bmax Honda, Dale Coyne Racing Starting P24, the No. 18 team entered the day confident they could move forward through the field. When the lap 18 yellow flew, Grosjean was P22 and elected to stay out for track position, moving the veteran up to P2 and eventually into the lead as the pit cycle played out. Pitting on lap 39, the Dale Coyne Racing team fitted Grosjean with full fuel and new tires, coming out right in front of the leader. Staying on the lead lap for that stint, Grosjean pitted again on lap 70, once again taking on new tires and full fuel. This time, the No. 18 ended up a lap down. When the lap 92 yellow came out, the No. 18 car was able to take the wave-around to get back on the lead lap while also changing tires and taking on full fuel. Under the lap 116 yellow, Grosjean came down for fuel and tires. During this stop, Grosjean received an end-of-line penalty for passing a car under yellow. Due to being in the back, the Coyne team took a risk by bringing Grosjean in again on lap 130 for fuel only to try and make it to the end of the race with just one more pit stop. The risk paid off. After making his final pit stop on lap 166, Grosjean found himself in prime position to win, passing a majority of the field who had to make two pit stops and running P4 late in the race while able to push hard on fuel. When the lap 192 yellow flew, Grosjean started the subsequent restart in P4 with five laps to go. However, during the restart, Grosjean was shuffled back to ninth position, where he finished the day. With a P9 finish, Grosjean and the Dale Coyne Racing team ended the day as the Jostens Biggest Movers, gaining 15 positions on the day. Post-Race Quote: “I led my first laps at Indy! Today is bittersweet. I want to be happy with a top 10 and a clean race car, but we could have done so much more. On the restart with five laps to go, I felt like someone around me jumped the start, and I was the biggest loser from that situation. It took away any chance we had at competing for a win. I think this is a performance we can use as momentum going forward, but I wish we could have held onto the top five we had in the closing laps. I am so thankful to the team and everyone who made this possible.” Dennis Hauger – No. 19 Ault Blockchain Honda, Dale Coyne Racing Starting from P29, Hauger found himself in P24 after the opening handful of laps. Pitting under the lap 18 yellow, Hauger came in for full fuel and new Firestone tires. Holding his own, Hauger came in again on lap 61 for full fuel and tires while running in 20th position. When the lap 92 yellow flew, Hauger pitted from 17th, and after the Dale Coyne Racing team put on new tires and full fuel, Hauger came out in P15. On lap 130 under yellow, Hauger pitted once more for full fuel and tires, putting him in position to make it to the end on fuel with only one more pit stop. As the pit cycle played out, Hauger was running P3 with a chance to win as the strategy played out perfectly in his favor. Coming in for his final pit stop, Hauger received a pit lane speeding penalty, forcing the Norwegian to drive through the pits. This dropped the rookie from contention for the win to one lap down. As the race came to an end, Hauger finished P19 in his first Indianapolis 500 Mile Race appearance after being in contention for the victory late in the race. Post-Race Quote: “This month has been pretty humbling. Now that I have lived through it, I can say this month has been one of the craziest racing experiences I have ever had. I am pretty devastated with how the day ended. The team worked so hard, and the strategy was perfect for us, but it all got ruined because of a mistake on pit road. We have a lot of positives we can take from this month, but right now I am mostly devastated by how our chances at a win slipped away. I learned a lot and honestly I cant stop thinking about what ill do diffrent for next year to help my chances when I come back. Huge thanks to the whole team they worked so hard to make this possible for us.”
Biggest Mover: Hauger Gains 16 Spots in Stellar Indianapolis Drive
Dennis Hauger (No. 19 Ault Blockchain Honda) moved up through the field, earning the Jostens Biggest Mover Award, while teammate Romain Grosjean (No. 18 Bmax Honda) was on track for a top-five finish before an on-track incident dropped the Frenchman to the back of the field, one lap down. Dennis Hauger – No. 19 Ault Blockchain Honda, Dale Coyne Racing Starting from P24, Hauger avoided the Lap 1 melee and gained a masterful 11 spots to move into P13. Pitting on Lap 18 from P11, Hauger took on Firestone alternate tires and a full fuel load. After the Lap 22 yellow, Hauger cycled up to P8. Pitting again on Lap 42 from P7, Hauger and the Dale Coyne Racing team fitted another set of Firestone alternate tires and took on full fuel. Pushing hard, Hauger made his final pit stop on Lap 63, capping off a day where the No. 19 car was fourth-fastest on pit road. The team fitted another set of Firestone alternate tires and full fuel to make it to the end of the race. Finishing in P8, Hauger earned Biggest Mover honors by gaining 16 positions in his first race with veteran race engineer Ben Siegel. Post-Race Quote: “What a day! I think I gained like 10 spots on the first lap, and I never could have expected that. I think our strategy was great and allowed us to gain even more. We gained 16 spots, and that doesn’t happen unless everyone is on their game. Someone told me my crew was the fourth-fastest on pit road, and I believe it those guys were super good, and I think they helped big time in getting us where we needed to be to give us the best track position. I’m happy we were able to capitalize on the mayhem and come home P8. That’s a great points day for us.” Romain Grosjean – No. 18 Bmax Honda, Dale Coyne Racing Starting P11, the No. 18 team entered the day confident they could move forward through the field. Avoiding the Lap 1 yellow, Grosjean moved all the way up to fifth on the opening lap alone. Pitting on Lap 16, Grosjean took on a set of scuffed Firestone alternate tires and full fuel. When the Lap 22 yellow flew, Grosjean was running in P8. When the green flag flew, contact with a competitor forced Grosjean to pit, where the Dale Coyne crew changed a damaged toe link, losing a lap in the process and forcing the No. 18 team into recovery mode. Coming to pit road on Lap 49, the Dale Coyne crew fitted primary tires and full fuel. Pitting on Lap 69, and even managing to get back onto the lead lap for a handful of laps, Grosjean fitted Firestone alternate tires and full fuel to make it to the end of the race. Crossing the line, Grosjean ended his day in P21. Post-Race Quote: “I am honestly at a loss. This team is so much better than the results we are getting. I think we had a P4 going if we don’t get into an incident on track. So many good results have gotten away from us, but all the pieces are there. So many people are working so hard, and I feel for them that we are not getting the finishes we deserve. That being said, there is no better place to swing momentum than the Indy 500. I look forward to spending the next few weeks perfecting our car and turning this momentum around.”
ONLYBULLS UNVEILS SPECIAL INDY 500 LIVERY ON #19 DALE COYNE RACING ENTRY DRIVEN BY DENNIS HAUGER
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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (April, 27, 2026) — Dale Coyne Racing announced today that OnlyBulls will serve as the primary sponsor of the No. 19 entry for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500, driven by rookie standout Dennis Hauger. OnlyBulls, the fast-growing digital wallet, and AI-driven financial app, today announced a striking special livery that will debut on the No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing entry during the Month of May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The custom OnlyBulls design represents the brand’s continued investment in INDYCAR, combining performance, innovation, and fan engagement on motorsport’s biggest stage. The Indianapolis 500 represents the ultimate green flag moment, where opportunity, speed, and ambition collide, and OnlyBulls is bringing that same energy to fans at the track and to a broader audience engaging with the future of digital finance. The No. 19 OnlyBulls machine will feature a bold green flag-inspired design and the brand’s signature green and white identity, symbolizing growth, momentum, and the belief that when the green flag drops, anything is possible. The special livery highlights OnlyBulls’ mission to bring new audiences into the world of digital finance through intuitive tools, real world experiences like INDYCAR racing, and deeper fan engagement. Todd Ault, Founder of OnlyBulls and Executive Chairman of AULT Blockchain, emphasized the platform’s early momentum and excitement around the program: “We launched the OnlyBulls app at the start of the season, and more than 10,000 fans have already joined us to begin building their digital future,” said Todd Ault. “The Indianapolis 500 is the ultimate green flag moment in motorsports, and we’re proud to give fans a new way to be part of the action as Dennis takes on his first Indy 500.” Through the OnlyBulls app, users can engage with live moments and broader financial opportunities in new ways, unlocking rewards, exclusive experiences, and participation tied to the drivers, teams, and markets they follow. OnlyBulls is turning the green flag into more than just the start of a race, it is the start of opportunity. Hauger will make his Indianapolis 500 debut carrying the OnlyBulls colors, marking a major milestone for both the rising driver and the rapidly growing platform. He will be paired with veteran teammate Romain Grosjean, who will pilot the No. 18 BitcoinMAX entry for the team. Team owner Dale Coyne highlighted the importance of the partnership and the team’s ambitions for the event: “We appreciate continued support from AULT Blockchain and Chairman Todd Ault,” said Dale Coyne. “This program brings great energy to our team, and we’re excited to have Dennis and Romain pushing to deliver a strong result at the biggest race in the world. Dennis and teammate Romain Grosjean in the #18 BitcoinMAX entry are both ready to bring our team our first Indy 500 victory.” In addition to OnlyBulls and BitcoinMAX, the No. 19 entry will feature branding from AULT Blockchain and additional affiliated partners supporting the Month of May program, continuing a growing presence across both INDYCAR and IMSA competition. The Indianapolis 500, widely regarded as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” provides a global stage for OnlyBulls and its partners to connect with millions of fans while showcasing innovation at over 230 mph. Fans can follow the No. 19 OnlyBulls entry throughout practice, qualifying, and race day as Hauger takes on his first Indianapolis 500 in one of the most anticipated rookie appearances of the season. About OnlyBulls OnlyBulls is an AI-driven financial super app and digital wallet designed to make participating in modern finance more accessible, engaging, and rewarding. By combining intuitive technology with real-time insights and community-driven experiences, OnlyBulls empowers users to take part in digital markets with confidence. Inspired by the energy of the green flag, the platform is built for those ready to take action and start their run toward financial participation. About Dale Coyne Racing Dale Coyne Racing is a long-standing competitor in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, known for developing talent and competing at the highest levels of open-wheel racing.
Dale Coyne Racing Moves Forward During ACURA Grand Prix of Long Beach
Long Beach, California – Sunday, April 19, 2026 Dennis Hauger (No. 19 Ault Blockchain Honda) moved up through the field, gaining eight spots to finish P11, while teammate Romain Grosjean (No. 18 Bmax Honda) also gained positions, moving up two places during the race. Dennis Hauger – No. 19 Ault Blockchain Honda, Dale Coyne Racing Starting from P19, Hauger approached the opening laps cautiously, trying to keep his nose clean. As the rookie settled into the race, he committed to a fuel-saving strategy to make it to the end on two pit stops. Running P16, Hauger came into the pits for full fuel and a set of Firestone alternate tires. Hauger took these tires to the Lap 57 caution, pitting for a final set of Firestone alternate tires and fuel to reach the end of the race. He entered the pits in P15, but the Dale Coyne crew got him out in P13, gaining two spots during the hectic pit road sequence. When the track went green again, the rookie gained two additional positions, moving up to P11 an eight-spot improvement on the day. During the closing laps, Hauger made a late push to break into the top 10, just falling short and finishing P11. Post-Race Quote: "Well, I couldn't ask for more out of today. We had a good strategy going into the race, and we capitalized on it. At the end, I was fighting for the top 10, but the 8 car held on very well and I just didnt have enough to get around him. Overall, it was just a great day for the entire crew. This was a team effort we had great stops and strategy, just such a fun day. I was even thinking during the race how much I really love IndyCar. It's so much fun, and there is so much to think about while the race is going on. We can build off today going into May and Indy, and I can't wait to get started." Romain Grosjean – No. 18 Bmax Honda, Dale Coyne Racing Starting P23, the18 team elected to try a three stop strategy. Pitting on Lap 12 from P21, the team fitted Firestone alternate tires and filled the car with fuel. During this stint, Grosjean set the fifth fastest lap of the race at 1:09.4012 Grosjean ran these tires until Lap 32, when he switched to Firestone primary tires. When the Lap 57 caution came out, Grosjean was running P24 and elected to pit again for Firestone primary tires, rejoining in P23. On the final stint, Grosjean gained two more positions, finishing P21 an improvement of two spots from his starting position. Post-Race Quote: "That was a frustrating day. We have been struggling for grip, and we couldn't find it for the race. We got clean air, but the tires just wouldn't hold on long enough. We can get a lot better results than this, we've been close to good results a lot this season, we just need to put full races together. I think we learned a lot, and we're heading to the Indy road course next, where I got my first pole in my NTT INDYCAR SERIES career with this team, so I think we can turn our luck around there."
Dale Coyne Racing's Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix Race Report
Leeds, Alabama – (Sunday, March 29, 2026) Dale Coyne Racing’s Romain Grosjean (No. 18 Bmax Honda) found himself starting on the 3rd row for today’s race, while teammate Dennis Hauger (No. 19 Ault Blockchain Honda) fought hard and learned many lessons during his first time around Barber in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Romain Grosjean – No. 18 Bmax Honda, Dale Coyne Racing Starting P6, Grosjean felt confident heading into the 90-lap race around Barber Motorsports Park. After losing a handful of spots at the start, Grosjean showed his ability to push hard and was one of the few drivers able to follow other cars while maintaining pace in the beginning portion of the race. Staying out long after starting on black tires, Grosjean pitted on lap 23 from P4 for a scuffed set of alternate tires and a full fuel load. Pushing hard, Grosjean took these reds to lap 40, where the Dale Coyne Racing team fitted him with a new set of Firestone primary tires. On this stint, Grosjean went all the way to lap 66 to make his final stop of the day from 10th, putting on a set of fresh Firestone alternate tires to take him to the end of the race. Running long on the Firestone alternate tires, Grosjean ultimately finished the race in P15. Post-Race Quote: "That was super frustrating. We had the starting position and the pace, but the strategy did not go our way today. We could not find clean air, and that killed our lap times at the most important portions of the race. As the race went on, we just seemed to fall farther back. This car had so much pace in it, and it’s a shame we were not able to show it in the final results. Everyone worked hard this weekend to get a fast car, and it’s a shame we weren’t able to get the result I feel we deserved." Dennis Hauger – No. 19 Ault Blockchain Honda, Dale Coyne Racing Starting from P24, Hauger approached the opening laps cautiously, trying to keep his nose clean. As the rookie settled into the race, he came in for his first pit stop on lap 11, switching to Firestone primary tires and taking on a full fuel load. Running P21, Hauger pitted again on lap 38 for another set of Firestone primary tires and full fuel. Hauger took these tires all the way to lap 64, pitting for a final set of Firestone primary tires and fuel to reach the end of the race. As the race came to an end, Hauger finished in P23, completing his first permanent road course race in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Post-Race Quote: "This weekend was a big learning experience for me. That’s what’s important with weekends like these, you need to learn all you can. I know there are things we could do better that will help us moving forward. This is my first time being lapped in my entire career, and I won’t lie, that doesn’t feel good. A lot of people put a lot of effort into this, and this isn’t the result any of us want. We have two weeks to turn the page, and then we’ll be going to Long Beach to try this all over again."
Dale Coyne Racing's Java House Grand Prix of Arlington Race Report
Arlington, Texas – (Sunday, March 15, 2026) Dale Coyne Racing’s Romain Grosjean (No. 18 Bmax Honda) ended his day around AT&T Stadium early after contact on a last-lap restart left him stranded in the final corner, putting him P23. Teammate Dennis Hauger (No. 19 Ault Blockchain Honda) ended his day in P17 while saving fuel for his final stint of the race. Romain Grosjean – No. 18 Bmax Honda, Dale Coyne Racing Starting P15, Grosjean moved up to 14th in the early laps of the race. Settling into the race, Grosjean began to struggle with understeer, sending him into the pits on lap 12. On this pit stop, the Dale Coyne team fitted Grosjean with new Firestone primary tires and full fuel. This change helped with the understeer, giving Grosjean stronger pace for the remainder of the race. Pitting again from 14th on lap 34, Grosjean went onto his second set of Firestone Alternate tires. Pushing hard for pace during this stint, Grosjean pitted for one final time on lap 47 to make it to the end of the race on a fuel save. Defending hard, Grosjean ended up in the runoff area, losing a handful of positions and dropping to P20. The yellow flew shortly after for an unrelated incident, which led INDYCAR to set up a one-lap shootout to end the race. As the race went green for the final lap, Grosjean was hit in the rear by another car, ending any chance he had of moving forward and leaving him to finish P23. Post-Race Quote: "That was not a good race. We started the race with major understeer that made finding good pace impossible. We pitted a bit earlier than expected because of that, and once we got later into the race the issue went away and the pace came back. From there I felt good, but on the final stint I had to fuel save which cost me a few spots before I felt like I had no response in the brakes and went into the runoff. It only got worse from there because on the restart I was hit from behind before the restart and that ended my day. I think if those final 10 laps had gone our way a bit more we could have had a more competitive finish, but sometimes that's racing. We've had two weekends in a row with bad finishes and that hurts us in the points battle, so I hope we can turn our luck around in Barber. This team is working hard for me and I hope to give them results they deserve like we did in St Pete." Dennis Hauger – No. 19 Ault Blockchain Honda, Dale Coyne Racing Starting from P19, Hauger went into the opening laps trying to keep his nose clean. As the rookie settled into the race, he came in for his first pit stop on lap 12, putting on Firestone alternate tires and taking full fuel. Running P16, Hauger pitted again on lap 24 for another set of Firestone primary tires and full fuel. Hauger would take these tires all the way to lap 46, pitting for a set of Firestone Primary tires and full fuel to go to the end of the race. This strategy forced the rookie into a big fuel save. The young Norwegian not only hit the required number but exceeded what was expected of him. When the lap 68 yellow flew, Hauger found himself P17 and held onto that position on the final restart to finish the race P17 of 25. Post-Race Quote: "That was my first time really fuel saving in an INDYCAR , and man that felt like a big number to make it to the end. I think if we didn't have to make that number at the end we could have been up around 12th or 13th, but I learned a lot this week about how to hit a fuel number. I've never really had to do that in my racing career, so it was interesting to learn. I think this team and me can get a lot of good results this year and these first 3 weeks are just the start of what we can do. Huge thanks to all my partners who make this all possible,"
Hauger Battles to P15 in First Oval Start
Phoenix, Arizona – (Saturday, March 7, 2026) Dale Coyne Racing’s Dennis Hauger (No. 19 Ault Blockchain Honda) completed his first ever oval with a lesson in backwards driving, however completing the 250-lap race with no damage and a P15 finish. Romain Grosjean (No. 18 Bmax.IO Honda) had his day ended early after a mechanical issue sidelined the veteran for the first oval of the year. Dennis Hauger No. 19 Ault Blockchain, Dale Coyne Racing Honda After qualifying P22 and feeling he could have started higher up, Hauger was determined to get to the front. From P22, Dennis moved quickly, getting all the way to P16 in the early goings of the race. Pushing hard while continuing to learn, Hauger ended up spinning out, somehow keeping the car off the wall by driving backwards on track. When the green flag flew again, Hauger did not let the spin ruin his day. Pitting under the lap 13 yellow gave Hauger extra fuel over a majority of the field. This extra fuel allowed Hauger to stay out longer, even leading the race in just his second ever NTT INDYCAR SERIES race. Coming in from the lead, Hauger took new tires and fuel on lap 98. When the lap 142 yellow flew, Dennis was up to P10 thanks to a combination of good strategy and strong race pace. Dennis held strong during this stint, pitting from P13 on lap 197 for fresh tires and fuel. When the lap 208 yellow flew, the team elected to stay out, restarting P8 as the last car on fresh tires, while everyone behind elected to pit for fresh tires. Fighting hard, Hauger finished P15 with a clean race car and 250 laps of NTT INDYCAR SERIES oval racing under his belt. Post-Race Quote: "That was a crazy day. I definitely learned a lot about how to drive these on ovals. I even learned how to drive these backwards for a bit! Overall, today was good. We ran a good strategy and my pace was strong. Had more cars stayed out on the last yellow, we could have been in position for a top 10, but it wasn't meant to be. I think we can grow from this as a team and go into Arlington with some good momentum from here and St. Pete." Romain Grosjean No. 18 Bmax.IO, Dale Coyne Racing Honda As cars took off from pit lane, Grosjean was unable to launch due to a mechanical issue in the clutch, forcing him to retire. Post-Race Quote: "Well, I suppose there is not much to say. I went to launch off pit road and the car wouldn't go , it would just stall. I was looking forward to this race too. I think we could have moved forward just like Dennis did, but I suppose we will never know. I feel horrible for everyone. A lot of people dedicate a lot of effort and time into this for it to end before it begins. Luckily, we don't have to wait long to try again."
Dale Coyne Racing Opens 2026 Season Strong with Double Top 10 Finish in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Florida – (Sunday, March 1, 2026) Dale Coyne Racing’s Romain Grosjean (No. 18 Bmax Honda) and Dennis Hauger (No. 19 Ault Blockchain Honda) convert their 6th and 3rd starting positions into a double top-10 performance to begin the year. Dennis Hauger starts his rookie campaign with a clean car and as the highest-finishing rookie in the race. Romain Grosjean – No. 18 Bmax, Dale Coyne Racing Honda For his first race back in over a year, Romain came out and qualified P6, giving the veteran driver confidence he could convert that into a good finish. After an early yellow, Grosjean stayed out with a majority of the field, settling into P7. Coming in to pit on lap 35, Grosjean and the Dale Coyne Racing team put on a fresh set of Firestone Primary Tires. Committing to a 2 stop strategy, Grosjean went long on this stint, pitting on lap 69 from P3 on track. On this pit stop, Grosjean and the team went on to the Firestone Alternate tires to fulfill the new NTT INDYCAR SERIES rule requiring teams to use two sets of Alternate tires. (The 18 team also started the race on the alternate compound.) Committing to making it all the way to the end of the race on these tires, Grosjean went on to finish the race on this set of Firestone Alternate tires. Defending against the 76 car for his final stint, Grosjean came out on top and ended his day in P8, a productive day for the new driver and engineering combination and in his homecoming with Dale Coyne racing. Post-Race Quote: "Today was a good day, whenever you start in the top 6 you are just looking to capitalize on the qualifying effort and today I think we did that starting the year with a P 8 finish. I think we could have done more and gotten a few more spots, but if you told me going into this weekend that id be in the firestone fast 6 and be top 10 in the race, I would have been very happy with that. Its only the first race of the year but it is finishes like this that make a good impression on the final point standings, so its a productive start for myself and the team. Id like to thank all of my partners, Todd (Ault) was here this weekend sponsoring the truck series race and to watch the Dale Coyne team and I am happy to put on a good weekend to start out. I'm thankful for all of his support in my comeback to Dale Coyne Racing". Dennis Hauger – No. 19 Ault Blockchain, Dale Coyne Racing Honda After putting on the best qualifying debut from a rookie in their debut since 2018, Dennis Hauger entered the race poised to make the most of his 2nd row starting position. Staying clean on the opening lap and battling wheel-to-wheel with reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion and former DCR driver Alex Palou, Hauger found himself in P5 when the lap one yellow flew. In his first laps in an NTT INDYCAR SERIES race, Dennis Hauger managed to hold off the Penske of David Malukas and teammate Romain Grosjean to pit from P4 on lap 36 to go on to the Firestone Alternate tires. Staying out long to commit to the 2-stop strategy, Dennis Hauger held in well for a very non-forgiving race track in St. Petersburg, where any contact with the walls can end your day. Pitting for a final time on lap 68, the Dale Coyne Racing team put on the Primary tires for the rookie driver. Running consistent race laps for the remainder of the race, Hauger came across the checkered flag P10, finishing his debut performance in INDYCAR with a top-10 finish. Dennis Hauger ends his debut race in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES race weekend showing the world how much raw talent the rookie possesses by qualifying P3 and receiving his first top 10 finish in his first ever race. Post-Race Quote: "This weekend is a dream come true. I have dreaming of this for a long time, to get P3 in my first ever qualifying performance in an IndyCar was surreal and to turn that into a top 10 finish is such a great feeling. I think we did good this weekend, but I know we have more we can find in ourselves to finish even better going forward. We can build off of this performance and I'm exited to go out and do this all again next week. I had all of my partners from Norway here this weekend so I'm happy I could give them a good performance for them I'm so grateful for all their support".
Hauger Shines on INDYCAR Debut Weekend with P3 Start as Both Dale Coyne Racing Cars Reach Fast 6
St. Petersburg, Florida (Saturday, February 28, 2026) Dale Coyne Racing’s Dennis Hauger (No. 19 Ault Blockchain Honda) is set to start P3 after both Dale Coyne Racing cars advanced to the Firestone Fast 6. Romain Grosjean (No. 18 Bmax Honda) qualified P6 in his homecoming with Dale Coyne Racing. Dennis Hauger – No. 19 Ault Blockchain Honda, Dale Coyne Racing After two productive practice sessions, Dennis Hauger entered his first qualifying session in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES with confidence. Hauger elected to start on the black primary Firestone tires for a banker lap in his first run of Round 1 qualifying. The rookie used the early laps to warm up his tires and brakes, setting a banker lap before pitting. The Dale Coyne Racing crew then fitted a set of alternate Firestone tires. Hauger pushed hard, setting a lap time of 1:08.881 good enough for P4 and advancing him to the Firestone Fast 12. When the green flag flew, Hauger went out to set a banker lap before pitting for a set of Firestone alternate tires. In the Firestone Fast 12, Hauger set a lap time of 1:00.640, putting him P4 overall and sending him into the Firestone Fast 6 on debut. In the Firestone Fast 6, Hauger went on to set a lap time of 1:00.5743, narrowly missing out on pole on debut and earning a P3 starting position for his first-ever NTT INDYCAR SERIES race. Post-qualifying quote: "The whole team did a great job, Romains up in the top 6 and I think he is saving his tires for tomorrow, we just wanted to give me as much practice as possible on the red tires as a rookie and to see just what we could do. I'm super happy about today and we will see what tomorrow brings. In the beginning of qualifying I was aiming for a top 12 and we got in there and just kept on going so im super stoked for the team and all my partners. I have some of my fans cheering down to me right now and that just means the world to me, im happy I could put on a good performence for them.." Romain Grosjean – No. 18 Bmax Honda, Dale Coyne Racing Romain Grosjean started Group 1 of Round 1 on primary Firestone tires to set a banker lap. After pitting for Firestone alternate tires, Grosjean pushed hard, setting a lap time of 1:01.0324 putting him P3 in the group and advancing him to the Firestone Fast 12. Coming out for the Firestone Fast 12, Grosjean employed a similar strategy, setting times on the Firestone primary tires before quickly heading into the pits to switch to a set of Firestone alternate tires. While on his banker lap in the Firestone Fast 12 Grosjean found his way into the runoff area, ending up penalized for impeding another car with a local yellow During the push laps on the Firestone Alternate tires, Grosjean finished P6 with a lap time of 1:00.7452, advancing into the Firestone Fast 6 in his homecoming with Dale Coyne Racing. Grosjean elected to save a set of alternate tires for the race and used the same set of tires in the Fast 6 as he did in the Firestone Fast 12. Ultimately, Grosjean finished P6, in a strong position to move up the field in the race. Post-qualifying quote: "I’m so happy for this team. Dale knows how to get the best out of everyone, and we saw that today with both the 18 and 19 in the Firestone Fast 6. Myself and my engineer Bill Pappas have learned to work with each other very well, very quickly. I think I give good direction and he has great ideas. I think there is actually more to unlock and more we can do, so I really hope this is only the start. We have a really good team here, and I’m super happy to be back. I think this is a good way to start my time with them again. I have a lot of partners here today, I am actually late for a sponsor dinner because qualifying got pushed back, so I hope they understand! "
