Dennis Hauger has increased his lead in the INDY NXT by Firestone championship to 76 points over his Andretti Global teammate Lochie Hughes, after finishing second at Iowa Speedway on July 12. Hughes, who began in second position, dropped to 16th place after receiving a blocking penalty for impeding eventual winner Myles Rowe early in the race.
Rowe, who claimed victory at Iowa, was involved in the incident with Hughes on Lap 3, resulting in Hughes serving a drive-through penalty on Lap 12 and subsequently losing a lap. Meanwhile, Caio Collet, who won at Road America on June 22, is third in the standings, 84 points behind Hauger. Myles Rowe and Salvador de Alba complete the top five, trailing by 127 and 156 points respectively as the series prepares for the upcoming doubleheader at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Weekend Schedule and Broadcast Details for Laguna Seca
The two races at Laguna Seca will each run for 35 laps. The first race takes place Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET on FS2, with the second race following Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on FS1. Both events will also be available to stream via the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network, offering fans multiple avenues to follow the championship action.
Potential for Hauger to Dominate Laguna Seca Doubleheader
Last year, reigning series champion Louis Foster swept both races at Laguna Seca, joining notable drivers Spencer Pigot (2015), Rinus VeeKay (2019), and Kyle Kirkwood (2021) in achieving this feat on the demanding 2.238-mile, 11-turn course. Hauger’s performance so far this season suggests he could be next to accomplish a Laguna Seca sweep, having demonstrated strength on natural road courses with wins at Barber Motorsports Park, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, in addition to a runner-up finish at Road America.
Since the event’s return in 2019, the eventual INDY NXT champion has secured at least one race win during the Laguna Seca weekend in three out of five seasons. With only four races remaining after this weekend—at Portland International Raceway on August 10, The Milwaukee Mile on August 24, and Nashville Superspeedway on August 31—Hauger has an excellent chance to widen his championship margin substantially.
Lochie Hughes Seeks to Recover at Laguna Seca
Hughes, despite his setback at Iowa, has consistently delivered strong road course performances this year with podium finishes at Barber, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Road America, and Mid-Ohio. However, his finish outside the top five at Iowa marked the first time in nine starts that he has not scored a top-five result, dropping him more than one race’s worth of points behind Hauger. With 54 points available per race this weekend, and 108 points total across both days, Hughes has sufficient opportunity to respond positively.
Andretti Global has dominated Laguna Seca in recent years, winning seven of the last eight INDY NXT races held there. This background makes Hughes a strong contender to reestablish momentum and remain an influential factor in the championship battle.
Collet Targets Victory to Close Gap
Caio Collet, who finished runner-up to Foster in both Laguna Seca races last year, arrives as a serious challenger. Competing for HMD Motorsports, Collet has amassed six podium finishes in nine races this season and is riding a streak of seven top-five finishes. His consistent performances put him firmly in contention for a first-place finish at the challenging WeatherTech Raceway.
Chip Ganassi Racing Eyes Breakthrough at Laguna Seca
At Iowa, Chip Ganassi Racing drivers Niels Koolen and Bryce Aron posted fifth and ninth place finishes, marking the team’s second double top-10 result this season following their performance in Detroit. Although CGR boasts an illustrious history with 23 championships and over 260 wins across major series—including six Indianapolis 500 victories, the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans—an INDY NXT win continues to elude the team.
Having secured five NTT INDYCAR SERIES wins at Laguna Seca, including three consecutive victories, CGR hopes the INDY NXT event at this circuit can deliver the breakthrough into victory lane they seek.
Laguna Seca as a Stepping Stone to INDYCAR Success
Since 1989, INDY NXT by Firestone has held 27 races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, producing 21 different winners, with 20 of these drivers moving on to compete in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. This highlights the importance of Laguna Seca as a platform for emerging talent looking to advance to the premier series. As the field prepares for the two-race weekend, anticipation builds over which drivers will seize victory and further their championship campaigns.
Track Details and Technical Notes
The WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca circuit measures 2.238 miles with 11 turns, demanding precision and skill from drivers. The current qualifying record is held by Christian Rasmussen, who set a time of 1:11.7225 (112.333 mph) on September 9, 2023. Drivers will also utilize the Push to Pass feature, allowing a total of 150 seconds of extra power with a maximum of 15 seconds per activation, providing strategic opportunities during the races.
With Dennis Hauger entering the weekend with a strong points advantage and demonstrated road course excellence, the stage is set for a dramatic INDY NXT doubleheader at Laguna Seca. The outcomes of these races will likely have a significant impact on the championship trajectory as the season moves toward its final stages.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What happened to Dennis Hauger?
A. In 2024, Hauger will stay in Formula 2 for a third year with MP Motorsport, teaming up with Franco Colapinto from the Williams Driver Academy. Before the Qatar race, Hauger decided to exit Formula 2 to concentrate on preparing for Indy NXT in 2025. His spot was taken by Richard Verschoor.