Bobby Travis · NASCAR/IndyCar-Korrespondent
After a Rookie of the Year season with Dale Coyne Racing, the Norwegian secures a multi-year deal with one of the most storied teams in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
Dennis Hauger is moving to A.J. Foyt Racing for the 2027 season on a multi-year contract. The 23-year-old Norwegian, who was named Rookie of the Year in his first full IndyCar season with Dale Coyne Racing in 2026, is leaving the team after just one year to join one of the most established names in the series.
From Karting to In-Demand IndyCar Talent
Hauger's path to American open-wheel racing was anything but a detour. He came up through Norwegian karting to claim a Formula 3 title, then moved on to the Indy NXT series, which he finished as champion. His promotion to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES for 2026 was the logical next step in a career that consistently pointed upward.
Capping off his first complete IndyCar season with the Rookie of the Year trophy underscores how quickly he adapted to a series that, with its mix of ovals, road courses, and street circuits, ranks among the most demanding open-wheel series in the world. That very versatility appears to have convinced A.J. Foyt Racing to pursue the Norwegian aggressively.
The Move to Foyt
After just one year with Dale Coyne Racing, Hauger is moving on. A.J. Foyt Racing, named after the living IndyCar legend and one of the few remaining family-owned teams in the series, has secured the Norwegian for multiple years. A multi-year deal rather than a one-year contract signals that the team is planning long-term with him and isn't just looking for a stopgap solution.
For Dale Coyne Racing, losing Hauger likely stings. A Rookie of the Year who moves on after just one season is tough for a team built on nurturing young talent and watching them grow. For Foyt, though, it appears to be a clear statement: the team wants to work its way forward in an increasingly competitive IndyCar field and is betting on a driver with proven speed to get there.
What the Move Could Mean for 2027
A midseason team switch in the middle of an emerging career always carries risk, but also opportunity. New engineers, a new setup environment, new teammates—Hauger will need to sort all that out before he can pick up where he left off at Coyne. At the same time, an established outfit like Foyt may offer more resources and continuity to turn a strong rookie season into legitimate championship contention.
How the move plays out in terms of actual performance remains to be seen once the 2027 season kicks off. What's already clear: with Hauger at Foyt, the IndyCar grid has another compelling storyline worth watching as soon as testing begins.
