RACE REPORT: Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio
Race Notes
- The Andretti INDY NXT team took to the classic road course in the rolling Ohio countryside this morning for the Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio following Dennis Hauger’s track record-breaking pole position performance in yesterday’s qualifying.
- After a lengthy red flag delay early in the race, Hauger dominated at Mid-Ohio, leading all 33 laps to take a commanding victory for his fifth career INDY NXT win. Teammate Lochie Hughes joined him on the podium in third, holding position throughout the race, with Andretti INDY NXT driver Salvador de Alba rounding out the top four.
- Hauger’s dominant drive at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course not only delivered the team’s 12th win at the track, but also achieved a historic milestone for the Andretti Global team, reaching 300 wins across all series to date.
- The result extends Andretti INDY NXT’s podium streak to 28 consecutive races, dating back to the INDY NXT by Firestone Music City Grand Prix in 2023.
- With the red flag brought out on Lap 5 for Andretti Cape’s Seb Murray and Ricardo Escotto’s incident for lengthy track repairs, today’s race was reduced to 33 laps.
- The Andretti INDY NXT team will be back in action next weekend as the INDY NXT by Firestone series returns to oval racing for the second time this season at the Iowa Speedway on Saturday, July 12 at 1:30 PM ET.
Race Results
Lochie Hughes
No. 26 McGinley Clinic /
USF Championship Dallara
P3
| Started | P3 |
| Standings | P2 (324 points) |
- Following yesterday’s qualifying that saw Hughes put on an impressive performance to take the start from third, the driver of the No. 26 McGinley Clinic was able to maintain position from start to finish, securing the Australian driver’s seventh career INDY NXT podium.
“Definitely a tough race out there today with the heat and the red flag delay, but glad to see both Seb and Ricardo walk away from that incident. We had good pace and I was closing in on Collet towards the end, but just ran out of time to make a move. Still, it’s great to be on the podium again and score some solid points.”
Salvador de Alba
No. 27 Grupo Indi Dallara
P4
| Started | P5 |
| Standings | P6 (223 points) |
- Having secured his best starting position at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, de Alba was able to move up into fourth before the red flag on Lap 5.
- The Mexican driver was able to maintain position for the remainder of the race and take his best finish at the historic track.
“I’m happy with how the weekend went overall. We struggled at the start, so really happy with how the team has come together and improved the car since Friday. The result was a solid top five, but I know we still have work to do in order to be on the podium – that’s where we want to be. Congratulations to Dennis on another win and now we look forward to the next weekend at Iowa.”
Dennis Hauger
No. 28 Nammo Dallara
P1
| Started | P1 |
| Standings | P1 (371 points) |
- After Hauger’s record-breaking qualifying performance yesterday, the Norwegian driver was full of confidence heading into the race, taking the green flag starting from the pole.
- The No. 28 Nammo driver controlled the race from start to finish, leading every lap of the shortened 33-lap race while building a three-second gap to the car behind in the closing stages.
- Hauger’s commanding win at Mid-Ohio marks his fifth career victory in INDY NXT and delivers Andretti Global’s landmark 300th win across all racing series. The result also brings his total laps led this season to 205.
“First place in Mid-Ohio and I’m super happy. The car was great and we got the 300th win for the Andretti Global organization which is really cool to be able to play a part in. The aim now is to keep this momentum heading into next week where I’ll take on my second oval race in my career. We’ll try build up the speed there and see how we get on.”
James Roe
No. 29 Topcon Dallara
P13
| Started | P15 |
| Standings | P15 (122 points) |
- Roe was able to take advantage of the opening lap battles ahead and move up into 14th before making up two more places after Murray and Escotto’s incident.
- The Irish driver was closing in on the car in front towards the end of the race, but was unfortunately passed and dropped to 13th, where he would ultimately take the checkered.
“Some good points today after we had a bit of work to do from our starting position. Thankfully, we made some good ground. I’m glad to see Seb and Ricardo are okay after that wreck, as it was a pretty big one. We’ll keep working on everything, and I’m looking forward to getting to Iowa.”
Seb Murray
No. 2 Dream Racing Dubai Dallara
P18
| Started | P12 |
| Standings | P10 (140 points) |
- After holding his starting position in 12th from the green, the Scottish driver made contact on Lap 4 with teammate Andretti Cape teammate Escotto, resulting in race-ending damage to the No. 2 Dream Racing Dubai’s race.
“A super unfortunate end to today. I’m not really sure what happened, we’ll have to watch the replays and look at the data, but I’m just glad everyone’s okay. A massive thank you to the AMR Safety team. They’ve done a great job and were on the scene very, very quickly. Obviously, apologies to the team. It was a good weekend until the incident, and we were hoping to make our way up through the field.”
Ricardo Escotto
No. 3 Frank’s RedHot Dallara
P19
| Started | P16 |
| Standings | P13 (127 points) |
- Taking the green in 16th, Escotto quickly made up three places during the opening phases of the race, climbing into 13th.
- On Lap 4, the Mexican driver came together with teammate Murray on the run down from Turn 2, also ending his race early.
“Thankfully, we’re both okay, as it was a scary one. A big thanks to the AMR Safety team. I’m obviously frustrated and disappointed after the unfortunate incident, especially since it involved my teammate. The margins are so close here, and when you’re racing each other hard, these things can happen.”
Don Lambert
Team Manager
“Another solid win for Dennis and the Andretti INDY NXT team today. It also marks Andretti Global’s 300th win across all series, so that’s pretty awesome. I think we got the 250th win at Iowa a few years back too, so its a huge testament to the Andretti INDY NXT crew to keep adding to the organization’s wins and we’re really proud of all of our crew. The race was quite eventful with the big crash which was very unfortunate for Seb and Ricardo, but it’s great to see them walk away from it safely. Our focus now turns to Iowa where we’ll look to continue this momentum.”