Last time out in Indy NXT, Dennis Hauger dominated in Detroit. But with the IndyCar Feeder Series taking its first trip to an oval in 2025, would anyone be able to beat him at the St. Louis Grand Prix? As it turns out, it was his teammate Lochie Hughes who would be Hauger’s biggest threat. Here’s everything you need to know.
Pole Position for Hauger
It looked like it would be yet more business as usual for Dennis Hauger following Saturday’s Qualifying Session. The Championship Leader claimed another Pole Position for Andretti Global with an average lap speed of 166.162mph.
Caio Collet lined up beside him in second place with Salvador de Alba in third. Many thought that the Brazilian would be the driver to take the fight to Hauger again for Sunday’s race. With three podium finishes prior to this weekend, Collet appeared best placed to take Hauger on. But as it transpired, it would be a driver outside of the top three in qualifying that would meet Dennis Hauger head on instead.
Opening Swipes
The opening laps of Sunday’s race gave fans some phenomenal racing action. From the get-go, there was incredibly close wheel to wheel action throughout the pack and the laps began to tick away in the blink of an eye. While it came close at times, there were never any incidents that disrupted the race.
Hauger, Collet, De Alba, Rowe, Hughes and Pierson kept it tight and clean throughout. That didn’t stop the moves they were making and attempting to make from putting everyone watching on the edge of their seats however. In a season where there has already been some excellent on track battles, St. Louis gave us the very best of it that we’ve seen so far.
Settling into a Rhythm
The next forty or so laps changed the dynamic of the race. Once the opening melees were taken care of, things in the race began to settle down. Laps still ebbed away fairly quickly but without the same frivolous popcorn drama. The rhythm of the race came into effect and the skill of all of the drivers on track could be greatly appreciated lap after lap.
In motorsport, particularly when racing on oval circuits, it can be easy to forget the challenges constantly facing the drivers over the duration of a race. However, events like this hammer that point back home again. It both showcases the talent on display and allows for a greater appreciation and enjoyment of what is being witnessed. What may appear a little boring to some is downright impressive to others.
Hughes on a Charge
in the last twenty or so laps of the race, things began to come alive again. Rookie Australian driver Lochie Hughes came across as a man possessed as he began carving his way up through the field. At times, it was as if he was racing in an actual IndyCar rather than the Indy NXT machinery that everyone else was in; such was the speed and ease with which he was passing everyone ahead of him.
Before too long, Hughes found himself up into first place. That’s where he stayed until the end of the race. He crossed the finish line in P1 to claim his second win of 2025. To date, he’s only finished one race off the podium – a record he now takes from Dennis Hauger.
Myles Rowe and Caio Collet made up the second and third spots on the podium. It was a fantastic bounce back result for Rowe who finished down in P18 last time out. While Collet finished one place back from where he began, there will be solace for him in finishing ahead of Hauger.
De Alba finished in fourth, equalling his best result of the year, with Hauger only able to finish as high as fifth in the end. Pierson, Hedge, Correa, Allaer and Koolen rounded out the top ten for the St. Louis Grand Prix. Allaer’s P9 was also his best result of the year so far.
Championship Standings
The Indy NXT St. Louis Grand Prix gave us some interesting changes to the 2025 Championship Standings. Dennis Hauger still leads overall with 274 points but the gap to second place has been cut down to just twenty points. Lochie Hughes’ victory brings the Championship lead within reach.
Caio Collet is back in third with Myles Rowe catching him quickly, just nine points behind him. De Alba and Pierson are further back in fifth and sixth. While anything can happen in motorsport, and it usually does, these five are the ones most likely to take on Hauger and become capable of beating him to the title by the end of the season.
The races will come thick and fast now so with the Championship heating up, it’s a brilliant time to be an Indy NXT fan.
Keep your eyes peeled too for our Winners and Losers of the Bommarito IndyCar Grand Prix later in the week.
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Indy NXT returns June 22nd at Road America.
Feature Image: IndyCar Media Centre
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