Scott McLaughlin, who earned pole position for IndyCar’s opening race of the 2026 season, expressed surprise at the strong qualifying performance of the two Dale Coyne Racing (DCR) drivers during Saturday’s Fast 6 session. Known historically as a lower-budget team, DCR’s sudden competitive edge shocked many in the paddock.
Rookie Dennis Hauger and veteran Romain Grosjean both advanced into the Fast 6 qualifying round, outperforming several established front-runners. Grosjean managed to beat top drivers like Will Power and Josef Newgarden in Group 1, Round 1 qualifying, while Hauger edged out IndyCar legend Scott Dixon and 2016 Indy 500 champion Alexander Rossi in Group 2. Both drivers sailed through Fast 12 with ease; Hauger went on to take an impressive third place, displacing reigning champion Alex Palou, while Grosjean secured a spot in the top six.
Reflecting on the surprising turn of events, Scott McLaughlin, who took his second consecutive pole position at the St. Petersburg street circuit, credited the underdog team for their unexpected speed.
“I was very impressed,” said McLaughlin. “This is IndyCar, it’s competitive. That’s what makes the sport so awesome, is the fact that a lower budget team, whatever you want to call it – I’m sure they don’t like me saying that – but at the end of the day, it’s well known, and they’re killing it. That was a great effort.”
Dale Coyne Racing’s history of relying on driver sponsorships to secure their spots continued to influence the offseason, with Grosjean’s signing happening late due to sponsor uncertainty. Despite these challenges, the team’s recent acquisitions and new technical partnerships have paid dividends on track.
“I was certainly surprised to see both of them in the Fast Six, but they’ve made some acquisitions over the off-season and got a couple guys that have been pretty deeply entrenched into the sport, as we all know, and been okay,” McLaughlin added.
This offseason, DCR established a technical alliance with Andretti Global, coinciding with the signing of Dennis Hauger. This collaboration appears to have contributed significantly to DCR’s improved pace, visible in their performance in the very first race weekend of 2026.
McLaughlin Remains Cautious About Team Penske’s Street Circuit Potential
Despite his back-to-back pole achievements at St. Petersburg, Scott McLaughlin expressed caution regarding Team Penske’s capabilities on street circuits. While Team Penske is renowned for its dominance on short oval tracks, McLaughlin indicated that success on street courses remains uncertain.
“I’m skeptical to go, yeah, we’ve found – I think for me, it’s going to be waiting until Long Beach,” explained McLaughlin. “Long Beach was our worst street circuit, I thought personally and I think as a team and probably the biggest gap we had to the Andrettis and maybe the Hondas in some ways.”
“This (St. Pete) is nice, but we know we’re fast here. It’s just a matter of executing – Sorry, I keep using that word, but you’re going to get used to it. Yeah, I’m not counting my chickens before they hatch. It’s okay right now,” the 32-year-old Kiwi added.
Following a disappointing 2025 season, McLaughlin is eager to begin 2026 on a high note with a victory. Still, his wary stance illustrates the unpredictability and challenge street circuits bring to even the most experienced teams and drivers.
The early prominence of Dale Coyne Racing this year highlights the shifting competitive landscape of IndyCar, where budget constraints and team history do not necessarily dictate results. As the season progresses, the impact of technical partnerships and strategic driver acquisitions will be closely watched, particularly by established squads like Team Penske and Andretti Global. Scott McLaughlin’s cautious optimism, paired with DCR’s rise, sets the stage for an intriguing and highly competitive 2026 IndyCar campaign.
