Indy NXT | FP1 | St. Pete | Hauger P1, lays down ominous marker - Motorsport

Spread the love

The 2025 Indy NXT season is underway at St. Pete as FP1 took place under blue skies, view the full report and results below.

Jordan Missig led the way in the opening five minutes, clocking a 1:08.3030 to lead the way from Miller by a tenth of a second.

Germany’s Sophia Floersch was the first into the 1:07s on a 1:07.8580. However, fellow rookie Lockie Hughes soon toppled that with a 1:07.2745 to comfortably lead the way early doors. He went even faster soon after as he did a 1:06.881.

Missig responded, however. A 1:06.832 put him ahead by 0.049s at the 10-minute mark. Not long after, however, Salvador de Alba Jr. put himself P1 as a 1:06.281 put him ahead of Missig, Collet, Pierson and Hughes.

Ricardo Escotto was the first driver to make a mistake as he locked up the right front heading into turn 1 and bailed out to the escape road.

F3 champion and F2 race winner Dennis Hauger then moved himself up to P1. After jumping into the top 3, he pummeled in a 1:05.828 to go top by 0.2s. He was first to dip below 66s as 20 minutes passed.

However, Hauger saw his time usurped as Caio Collet beat his former F3 rival by 0.040 as he smashed in a 1:05.788. Missig also jumped into the 1:05s on a 1:05.989. Hedge, de Alba, Pierson, Escotto, Hughes, Miller and Rowe rounded out the top 10 with 20 minutes left in Indy NXT FP1.

Down at turn 4, Hauger went straight down the run-off as he got too deep on the brakes. Like Escotto, no damage was done.

First red flag of the season

Unfortunately for Sophia Floersch, her session ended with just over 15 minutes to go. Heading into turn 4, she lost the rear and crashed into the tyre barriers, damaging the rear of her HMD Motorsports car.

A second red flag appears

Indy NXT FP1 saw a second red flag soon afterwards. Hailie Deegan had a snap of oversteer in turn 4. She did well to avoid the wall. However, a red flag was quickly thrown despite her not connecting with anything.

Hauger demolishes the field

In the final 5 minutes, Andretti Global’s Dennis Hauger smashed in a 1:05.223, going over half a second clear of the pack. Collet, Rowe, Missig and de Alba were the other drivers in the 1:05s.

A third red flag

Tommy Smith’s accident brought Indy NXT FP1 to a premature end. He took inside kerb on the entry to turn 10, lost the rear and hit the outside wall, damaging the right front suspension. The Aussie also lost his front wing.

Full Indy NXT FP1 results