“The difference is wild for sure.” That is what Hailie Deegan blurted out after wheeling her first IndyCar vehicle last week. Hailing from a fender-banging stock car racing background, the motorsports icon had to transition to the delicate precision of single-seaters. This world involves a completely different driving style with high cornering speeds, precise breaking, and an aversion to physical contact.

So naturally, the former NASCAR driver was naturally a little apprehensive. On her first outing at an Indy NXT Series test last October, Hailie Deegan posted a speed 3 mph slower than the second-last driver. That is why she apprehended her first qualifying.

Hailie Deegan confessed her jittery feelings

Well, the female racer has a ton of experience on her resume. In 2019-19, Hailie Deegan won three races during her time in NASCAR’s K&N West Division – becoming the first woman to do so. She finished third in the 2020 ARCA Menards season. Her NASCAR career featured two top-five finishes across three full-time Truck seasons. Yet Deegan’s Xfinity season in 2024 may have axed her confidence quite a bit. She could not clinch a single top-ten finish across 17 starts and accrued three DNFs. Then her Indy NXT test yielded a slow speed of 111.280 mph.

So Hailie Deegan started feeling jittery ahead of her first IndyCar qualifying session. Before the Indy NXT season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, the 23-year-old quipped: “It’s my first qualifying session, guys, I’m excited!” But then the candid truth rolled out of her tongue. The IndyCar machine lacks power steering, signifying an added challenge. “This is all so new to me. I feel so out of place.” She issued a 4-word verdict: “It’s just so foreign.“ She explained further, “Like, I’m used to qualifying. You’re getting in, rolling off one at a time. I don’t know, it’s just so different. The vibe is totally different. My crew guys are cool – I got a good crew.”

The weekend did not start well for Hailie Deegan and her No. 38 HMD Motorsports car. She struggled in practice, drooping to the bottom of the time sheets. Her much-anticipated qualifier was also not impressive, as it left her with a starting spot at the back of the grid. However, Deegan outlined her primary goal for her St. Petersburg debut ahead of the final race. “I think my goal is to get through this one. Have a clean, easy day for this race and then really start going from there.”

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Hailie Deegan is known for her persistence and tireless dedication. So she delivered according to the goals she set for herself.

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A solid day but for a swollen arm

Hailie Deegan persevered and therefore she conquered. The St. Petersburg IndyCar race was scheduled for 45 laps, but several crashes dotted the event. The four cautions left several cars battered and reeling under mechanical failures. However, Hailie Deegan was able to steer clear of the chaos that is usual on St. Pete’s tight and unforgiving layout. She even managed to gain a few spots thanks to on-track passes. In the end, Deegan finished on the lead lap in 14th place – a small yet important victory for her primary goal of survival. “I thought we accomplished what my goal was for myself this weekend,” Deegan said.

However, Hailie Deegan’s endurance also came at the cost of a painful experience. When she clambered out of the No. 38 machine on pit road, she was clutching her right forearm. A crew member checked it and it was swollen. That was because she just competed in her first career race without any power steering. “It’s a little bit sore,” she said.

Deegan analyzed the situation accordingly. “Definitely, this is by far the hardest form of racing I’ve ever been a part of. By ‘hardest’, I mean physically, so, it’s very physically demanding. I definitely need to be in the gym as much as I can be, which I’ve been the last couple of months, but I think just keep working at it so I can see the improvement myself.”

Evidently, Hailie Deegan is slowly but steadily overcoming her jittery feelings. Let us wait and see how well she improves her IndyCar exploits.