Hauger wins after big crash causes red flag in Indy Nxt at Mid-Ohio

Photo: Joe Skibinski

Dennis Hauger claimed the victory in an Indy Nxt race at Mid-Ohio disrupted by a dramatic crash and lengthy red flag.

The field were on their fourth lap and closely packed together when Andretti Cape team-mates Seb Murray and Ricardo Escotto came together.

Murray’s car was turned in front of Escotto as they hit the wall at speed. He was sent into a cartwheel, the car almost touching the starter’s stand before landing. Both Murray and Escotto were able to get out of the cars and later cleared by medical teams.

Debris on circuit and barrier work meant a lengthy red flag followed.

There had been little change at the front of the order in the initial three laps. Hauger held onto the race lead from Caio Collet and Lochie Hughes, while Salvador de Alba passed Josh Pierson for fourth. 

When racing resumed, now on a timer rather than lap count, Hauger continued where he left off. Collet tried to stick with the championship leader on the restart, but it wasn’t long before Hauger pulled away. Those at the front of the order spread out and went untroubled throughout the race.

After 33 laps, Hauger came home 3.3220 seconds ahead of Collet, who was 2.5996s ahead of Hughes.

Hughes had de Alba and Pierson close behind for much of the race. Callum Hedge briefly challenged Pierson for fifth, but couldn’t keep up with the train of drivers forming behind Hughes. There was little opportunity for any overtaking manoeuvre, however, and the order remained the same from the restart until the chequered flag.

Jordan Missig was one of the few drivers to find a way forward. He had started eighth but lost out to Juan Manuel Correa on the initial start. He stayed close behind the HMD Motorsport driver, finding a way through in the closing stages of the race to take seventh. Evagoras Papasavvas took eighth ahead of Myles Rowe, who snatched the final spot in the top 10 from Jack William Miller.

Race results (33 laps)