The Indy NXT Sonsio Grand Prix saw a double header take place for the Championship last weekend. Dennis Hauger was once again on fine form – but the Norwegian didn’t have it all his own way. Main Championship rival Lochie Hughes capitalized on his misfortunes and was able to close the points difference between the pair of them. Here’s everything that you need to know.
Indy NXT | Alabama Grand Prix | Hauger’s Domination Continues
Lochie Hughes Propels into Championship Contention
Rookie Lochie Hughes proved that in 2025, it is indeed possible to beat Dennis Hauger. The Australian led all thirty five laps to win the first of two races last weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
Having pipped his Norwegian rival to Pole Position too, it was a day of domination for the Aussie. Drama unfolded behind him and with multiple yellow flags braking up the racing action and bunching up the field. There were moments where it seemed as if Hughes’ debut win would have to wait for another day but in the end, it all came together in spectacular style.
The 2024 USF Pro 2000 Champion was able to keep HMD Motorsports driver Caio Collet behind him for the entire race. He beat the Brazilian driver by .7229 of a second over the finish line and clinched his maiden win.
“It’s nice to finally get a win, especially around here. What a day. My parents are here, as well, this weekend, and they’re not usually here, so I think it’s the first time they’ll see me win in a long time because they don’t come over (to America) much. Pretty cool.” – Lochie Hughes
Consistency is key for Myles Rowe
Behind the Australian and the Brazilian was the American of Myles Rowe. Having finished in fourth place in the first two rounds of the season, it was third time lucky for Rowe as he got onto the podium at Indianapolis. While still a way back from Hauger and Hughes in the Championship, this consistency is proving to be key to keep him in contention, should any bad luck come the way of the two drivers out front.
In the second race of the weekend, Rowe went and repeated his stellar performance, finishing once again in third place. If he keeps up this level of performance, the American will move into a no man’s land in the Championship standings as he attempts to hunt down Hauger and Hughes.
Best of the Rest
Caio Collet, Salvador de Alba and Callum Hedge were the best of the rest at the Indy NXT Sonsio Grand Prix. Collet got himself up onto the podium in second place for the first race but had to settle for fifth come the end of the second. De Alba came across the line in fifth and fourth for the two races. The Mexican is now just six points behind the Brazilian of Collet ahead of him.
Callum Hedge put in his best performance of the season so far in the first of the two races. By finishing in fourth place, he dismantled his previous best finish of eighth at the season opener in St. Petersburg. In the second race, the New Zealander finished in tenth.
More Domination from Dennis
In 2025, the only other driver on the IndyCar scene having as dominant a performance has been Alex Palou. However, just as Palou fell short in Long Beach, Hauger fell short here at the Sonsio Grand Prix in the first of the two races.
Hauger started second but had contact with Hedge into Turn 1 on the opening lap, forcing his car off track. He returned to the racetrack down in last place. But he was able to steadily climb back through the field and by the end of the race, had somehow managed to get himself into eighth place. As far as damage limitation goes, it was a very respectable effort.
For the second race, it was back to business as usual for Hauger. He took the lead from Hughes and never gave it back. He went on to win this third race of the year. It’s an incredibly impressive run from the former Formula 2 driver and one that could propel him into an IndyCar seat in 2026.
Worthy Mentions
Elsewhere, Hedge, Smith, Murray and Allaer all had their best results of the season so far, finishing fourth, thirteenth, twelfth and sixteenth respectively in the first race of the weekend. Murray repeated that for the second race too, finishing in twelfth place again.
Juan Manuel Correa made his Indy NXT debut this weekend. But it was a baptism of fire for the American-Ecuadorian driver. He DNFd in the first race and could only make it as high in the order as fourteenth by the end of the second.
Hailie Deegan put in another two solidly consistent performances as she continues to learn the ropes during her first season of single seater racing. She finished in seventeenth and eighteenth respectively, building on her seventeenth place finish last time out in Alabama.
Finally, Ricardo Escotto and Jordan Missig had weekends to forget while Niels Koolen finished in an impressive sixth place in the second race. His previous best finish was in thirteenth position.
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Indy NXT returns June 1st for the Detroit Grand Prix.
Feature Image: IndyCar Media Centre
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