ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Qualifying for IndyCar’s season-opening race, the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, saw an unexpected team near the top of the field. Both of Dale Coyne Racing’s drivers, Dennis Hauger and Romain Grosjean, made Fast Six qualifying, as they’ll start third and sixth, respectively.
For Hauger, it was his first time qualifying in IndyCar. The 22-year-old was the 2025 Indy NXT champion after winning six races in IndyCar’s developmental series last year. It was Hauger’s lone Indy NXT season, as DCR then brought him in to drive its No. 19 car.
Advertisement
The Norwegian said he “wasn’t really expecting this” on the FS2 broadcast following qualifying. He’ll be on the inside of the second row on Sunday, next to three-time reigning champion Alex Palou.
Grosjean wasn’t officially announced as the driver for DCR’s No. 18 car until Feb. 13, but he had no problem in the qualifying session of his IndyCar return. Grosjean is entering his fifth season in the series, as he drove for DCR in 2021 before stints with Andretti Global and Juncos Hollinger Racing. Grosjean was a reserve driver for Prema Racing last year.
1 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Alex Palou, driver of the #10 Chip Ganassi Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
1 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Alex Palou, driver of the #10 Chip Ganassi Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
2 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Graham Rahal, driver of the #15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
3 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Will Power, driver of the #26 Andretti Global during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
4 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Kyffin Simpson, driver of the #8 Chip Ganassi Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
5 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Romain Grosjean, driver of the #18 Dale Coyne Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
6 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Scott McLaughlin, driver of the #3 Team Penske during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
7 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Romain Grosjean, driver of the #18 Dale Coyne Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
8 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Alexander Rossi, driver of the #20 Ed Carpenter Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
9 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Will Power, driver of the #26 Andretti Global during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
10 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Kyle Kirkwood, driver of the #27 Andretti Global during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
11 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Rinus Veekay, driver of the #76 Juncos Hollinger Racing drives during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
12 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Alexander Rossi, driver of the #20 Ed Carpenter Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
13 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Christian Rasmussen, driver of the #21 Ed Carpenter Racing drives during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
14 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Alex Palou, driver of the #10 Chip Ganassi Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
15 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Sting Ray Robb, driver of the #77 Juncos Hollinger Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
16 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Louis Foster, driver of the #45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
17 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Will Power, driver of the #26 Andretti Global during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
18 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Santino Ferrucci, driver of the #14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
19 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Santino Ferrucci, driver of the #14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises drives during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
20 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Alexander Rossi, driver of the #20 Ed Carpenter Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
21 / 21
IndyCar opens 2026 season at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 27: Graham Rahal, driver of the #15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing during practice rounds of the NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on February 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
Saturday was the first time DCR has put two drivers in the Fast 12 since 2022. Last year, the team’s two drivers — Rinus VeeKay and Jacob Abel — finished 14th and 27th, respectively, in the IndyCar standings.
DCR hasn’t won a race since Sebastien Bourdais won the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in 2018. Bourdais also won the race in 2017. Now, the team will have a chance to end that drought with two drivers in the front three rows.
Advertisement
Zion Brown is IndyStar’s motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar’s motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to the YouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyCar: 2 Dale Coyne Racing drivers qualify in Fast Six in St. Pete