Hauger overcomes first-lap disaster to take IndyCar ROTY honors

Success in motor racing often comes down to something as simple as taking advantage of the opportunity that’s in front of you, which makes Sunday’s battle for the IndyCar Series’ Rookie of the Year award a rather baffling affair.

Dale Coyne Racing’s Dennis Hauger led the other two rookies in Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Mick Schumacher and AJ Foyt Racing’s Cail Collet at the start of the 95-lap Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey and had a decent margin of comfort in the points, but calamity for the Norwegian at the season finale could have erased that lead and ended his RoY hopes.

And calamity did indeed visit Hauger on the opening lap where, just six turns in, he was blasted from behind by Sting Ray Robb who hammered Hauger’s No. 19 Honda into the barriers and out of the race. Left powerless in 25th and last place, Schumacher and Collet had the opening they needed to rip the ROTY trophy from Hauger’s hands and…they fell backwards over the rest of the race and helped Hauger to win while he stood trackside as little more than a spectator.

“It's obviously been a bit of a roller coaster this year as a rookie,” Hauger said. “To become the Rookie of the Year and get that title is pretty special to me. It can only happen once. Just want to say a big thanks to Team Honda, everyone supporting me this year. It's been, as I said, a bit of a roller coaster. Even with a DNF, we still got the title. Super happy and grateful.”

Following multiple seasons in Formula 2, Hauger shifted his career to the U.S. and made quick work of the Indy NXT series where he won the championship on debut. Placing 22nd for Coyne as a rookie was less than what he aimed for, but veteran teammate Romain Grosjean wasn’t far away in 19th.

“Being a rookie last year in Indy NXT, too, coming from a series where I kind of had more experience, as well,” Hauger added. “Still just learning every track for the first time. Obviously the car as well. New people. Moving to a new country. Yeah, a lot of new stuff at once. Kind of the same thing this year obviously being an IndyCar driver and a rookie, new tracks, a lot of stuff on the technical side that's new to me. Yeah, it's been a busy couple of years, but I've been super happy and lucky to race here, as well. It's just been such a fun ride.”

RLL’s Schumacher finished 23rd in the championship and second in the ROTY contest and Foyt’s Collet took 24th and third.