Sunday, March 2nd was an action-packed day out on the track with Indy NXT by Firestone in St. Pete as Andretti had a 1-2 with Dennis Hauger and Lochie Hughes. A couple of race restarts and caution flags made for an interesting race for both drivers and fans.
For 2024 USF Pro Championship winner Lochie Hughes, the season opener was his big debut in the Indy NXT series. The rookie drives the No. 26 McGinley Clinic, USF Pro Championship machine for Andretti Global.
The 22-year-old from Australia took 2nd place in St. Pete, the first race of the 2025 season. He showed his potential to grow this season and stay at the front of the pack. Ultimately he missed a tenth or two to challenge his Norwegian teammate.
For Hughes, there were various aspects of the race that needed some getting used to – he adjusted pretty quickly and reacted well to the different variables.
“Yeah, it was good. It’s the longest race I’ve ever done in my life coming from the USF Series. I don’t think I’ve ever — well, especially around here — done more than 25 laps. Yeah, to just be racing for that long was just a big learning curve, feeling what the tire does for that long.
“These big cars are very different, the way you drive them. Honestly learning a lot of things.
“Felt pretty good in the beginning for the first, you know — for most of the race really up until ten laps to go. I couldn’t really do anything, so just tried to bring it home.”
Knowing when to just push to the end and stay consistent
Despite 3 race restarts on laps 2, 14, and 25, Lochie felt like there wasn’t a chance for him to pull ahead of Hauger. Cold tires did not help the cause, and he decided to focus on getting the car to the checkered flag.
There are no pit stops during Indy NXT. Each driver must manage their tires to make them last for the duration of the race. The races are simply about testing a driver’s endurance, adaptability to unknowns, and race strategy.
When asked if he ran through different scenarios during the three different race restarts, Hughes mentioned that tires with no grip made it hard to consider overtaking Hauger.
“I think around here it’s almost impossible in these cars unless Dennis makes a mistake at the start to overtake because as soon as you’re — well, on the restart the tires have no grip. Then offline there’s no grip around here.
“So yeah, it would be a pretty ballsy move if I was going to pull it off.”
Unaffected by several incidents during the race, Hughes stuck by his teammate Hauger’s side throughout the race.
Again, consistency is key
The two Andretti Global rookie drivers impressed during the Indy NXT qualifying rounds and on race day. Hauger was also surprised at his strong start to the season.
Hughes consistently placed in the top 10 throughout the entire race weekend at St. Pete.
Practice 1 on Friday saw Hughes finish 10th, the lowest he would place all weekend.
Practice 2 would bring him close to his Andretti Global teammate and fellow rookie Dennis Hauger by placing 3rd.
Quali day split up the two top finishers and the rookie from Australia finished P1 in group 2 which put him right behind pole sitter Hauger.
During Sunday’s race, Hauger and Hughes consistently ran first and second, eventually leading Andretti Global to achieve a double podium with their two rookie drivers. Hughes was 0.1408 seconds behind Hauger at the race finish as the caution brought a slightly early end to proceedings.
Looking ahead
Indy NXT by Firestone heads over to Barber Motorsports Park in May for the second race weekend of this season.
These next few weeks will give Hughes some time to relax, look at race notes, recover physically and mentally, and prep for round 2 of the Indy NXT by Firestone series.
