IndyCar rookie Dennis Hauger mum on potential 2027 plans

Free-agency talk has ramped up quite a bit in the IndyCar paddock in recent weeks, and one of the biggest chess pieces on the board is rookie Dennis Hauger. 

The 2025 Indy NXT champion is driving for Dale Coyne Racing this season in a partnership with Andretti Global. However, it's unknown whether or not the 23-year-old from Oslo, Norway, will return to DCR in 2027 or jump to Andretti, which could have the seat of its No. 28, currently driven by Marcus Ericsson, open. 

"I don't know yet," Hauger said Tuesday on a media call when asked about his 2027 plans. "Still pretty open, it seems, across the field of the grid. For me, I just have to see the opportunities I can get. I know when I have a good car, I'm capable of winning races and being up on the top.

"We have to look at what opportunities I get, whether that's with Dale Coyne another year, whether if it's with Andretti or if it's somewhere else. But I think everyone kind of will slot in more for the next couple of weeks, and we'll know more by then."

Where does Dennis Hauger go?

RACER's Marshall Pruett wrote of Hauger's future on June 19, "Coyne recently told me he’d love to keep Hauger for as long as possible, so there’s no urgency for Andretti to call him back and vacate Coyne’s second car. If Rosenqvist, and not Hauger, takes over Ericsson’s car, would that push Hauger to 2028 as Power’s replacement? Again, there’s a lot of options and moves for this team to decide upon."

Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist could also be a candidate for a vacant Andretti ride, but that's only if Andretti does decide to part ways with Ericsson at the end of the season. It's also not known how long 45-year-old Will Power, who is in the midst of a poor first season driving Andretti's No. 26, will stay with the team or continue racing as a whole. 

Hauger's future seems to be set in stone partially, given that his options for next season are either moving to Andretti or staying with Coyne. But as far as which option will come to fruition, a guessing game is the most apt description.