![\"Romain](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/romain-grosjean-dale-coyne-rac.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThere was contagious energy around Dale Coyne Racing as team members navigated through the rigors of post-qualifying for the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.<\/p>\n
The team just qualified third with rookie Dennis Hauger, in his debut race weekend in the IndyCar Series, and sixth with returning veteran Romain Grosjean, who hadn\u2019t raced for the team since 2021. The scene coming to the team\u2019s setup area in the paddock was that of owner Dale Coyne – with a huge smile across his face – surrounded by team members and the occasional fan that would come up and ask for a picture.<\/p>\n
As the people scampered around to fulfill their duties, Coyne paused, as if taking in the moment, a wide grin continuing across his face.<\/p>\n
Although there were expectations\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cThey weren’t that high,\u201d Coyne told Motorsport.com.<\/p>\n
Coyne gave credit to the team, contrived of veteran engineers Mike Cannon and Bill Pappas – who recently returned after an extended time with IndyCar, along with Mitch Davis, one of the most well-respected team managers in the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s a good group of people we’ve got,\u201d Coyne said. \u201cOur engineers, Bill Pappas and Mike Cannon, have been with us before, they know how we think and we do things. They know our strengths and our weaknesses. Mitch knows that and knows how to manage it all. Our assistant engineers, everybody in the engineering department, were great.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we’ve got two great drivers, so there’ll be more of this, hopefully.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The duo of Grosjean and Hauger followed through with everything they showed Coyne during preseason testing. The combination of their feedback and skill behind the wheel are all part of what helped push the team to showcase it when it counts.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe saw some good stuff in the preseason,\u201d Coyne said. \u201cIt was like when we made changes to the car, they knew how to react to that. They would help lead us in the right direction with the car. And that’s valuable, that everybody works together. I just think that everybody working together, pulling in the same direction, it paid off today.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Romain Grosjean, Dale Coyne Racing<\/p>\n
Photo by: Penske Entertainment<\/p>\n
Grosjean, who was a reserve driver with PREMA Racing last season, was also surprised by how quick he and Hauger got on.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt like Fast 12 would be very good today, so having both cars in Fast Six is an extraordinary day,\u201d Grosjean told Motorsport.com. \u201cYeah, I think we can all be very proud of what we’ve done.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, tomorrow there’s a race, there’s a lot more going on, and there’s strategy involved in pit stops and bits and pieces, but the hardest part in racing is to go fast, and we did that today, and now we just have to execute the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hauger’s No. 19 Honda was just 0.0317s off the pole time set by Team Penske\u2019s Scott McLaughlin, while Grosjean, in the No. 18 entry, ended up 0.8036s off but opted to go out on old tires and save a set of alternates – having two fresh sets for the race.<\/p>\n
\u201cDennis is a very talented driver,\u201d Grosjean said. \u201cHe\u2019s been very fast all weekend. I think I’ve used my experience to get the car where we wanted it to be. We still have a little bit of work that we can do to go faster. There’s still more to be found, but generally I’m very proud of all of Dale Coyne Racing.<\/p>\n
\u201cAgain, we’re a small organization, but we’re doing a good job.\u201d<\/p>\n
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