Tag: NTT Indycar Series

 INDYCAR Announces Extension of Independent Officiating Board Members 

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 Managing Director of Officiating Elkins Also Confirmed for 2027

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026) – INDYCAR has announced extensions for Independent Officiating Board (IOB) members Ray Evernham, Raj Nair and Ronan Morgan for the 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone seasons.

This month, INDYCAR’s charter team owners unanimously agreed to retain Evernham and Nair, and the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) reappointed Morgan as the series looks to the second year of INDYCAR Officiating.

Nair is a 30-year veteran of the automotive and auto racing industries with vast experience and technical compliance expertise as an executive at Singer Group, Inc., Multimatic, Inc. and Ford Motor Company. He served as the IOB’s chair during the 2026 INDYCAR season.Evernham is a longtime motorsports veteran who most notably served as the crew chief for three of Jeff Gordon’s NASCAR Cup Series championships before he pioneered Dodge’s return to NASCAR. He served as the IOB’s secretary and treasurer last season.Morgan has over five decades of global motorsport experience as a senior official, promoter, organizer and competitor. Morgan also is a member of the FIA World Motor Sport Council and advisor to the FIA president.

Both Nair and Evernham will continue with their specific leadership roles within the IOB in 2027. Nair has served as the IOB chairman and Evernham as its secretary and treasurer.

With the framework finalized in December 2025, INDYCAR established INDYCAR Officiating as an independent, not-for-profit organization to govern North America’s premier open-wheel racing series. As designed, the IOB is comprised of two members chosen via a vote from INDYCAR charter team owners, and the other member is appointed by the FIA. The IOB is charged with enforcement of INDYCAR and INDY NXT rules and establishing officiating and governance separation and process transparency for INDYCAR Officiating.

The IOB also has confirmed that veteran motorsports officiating and competition executive Scot Elkins will continue as INDYCAR Officiating’s managing director of officiating (MDO). Elkins was selected in April 2026 and began in May to oversee race control, race stewards and technical inspection. He will continue to report directly to the IOB – with no oversight from INDYCAR or Penske Entertainment Corp. officials – to provide officiating governance and management

.In June, Elkins instituted a formal three-steward model that will continue in 2027 and launched official post-event reports for both the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone. The reports summarize race control activity, penalties, incident reviews and technical inspection findings, including matters reviewed and closed with no penalty. They are supported by published technical penalty guidelines carrying a three-level infraction framework, a central stewarding log and a precedent library, so that decisions can be measured against one another and provide a framework toward consistency across INDYCAR events.

Post-event reports are available at https://noticeboard.indycarofficiating.org.

The IOB also worked closely with the FIA through its first season to exchange ideas and explore best practices. The FIA Officials Department assisted in the evaluation of stewarding practice and helped develop a more robust model. All three IOB members attended the FIA Formula One Miami Grand Prix to benchmark race control, stewarding, technical inspection and communications against Formula One and Formula 2. Additionally, FIA safety officials attended the Indianapolis 500 and met INDYCAR medical and rescue teams to learn how INDYCAR implements its medical and rescue operations, which remain under the direction and authority of INDYCAR.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:

“It was gratifying to see how well INDYCAR Officiating was integrated into the 2026 INDYCAR season, and I believe continuity of the IOB is important as it builds on the success from its first season. INDYCAR remains committed to clear independence in the application of our rulebook and the IOB is instrumental in that effort. Additionally, creating consistency in the rule enforcement and penalty guidelines is important to our teams, drivers and our fans, and I appreciate the IOB board’s leadership and Scot’s work in this area. ” – J. Douglas Boles, INDYCAR president

“We moved quickly but meticulously this year in instituting a more transparent process, enhanced by a formal three-steward model, technical penalty guidelines and post-event reports, which we believe has been beneficial for all of INDYCAR. With that foundation, several improvements land for the 2027 season: a rulebook review with INDYCAR, a clarified formal review and appeal process, and additional tools for race control. Alongside that, we are modernizing technical inspection, including scanning technology, with the aim of having it proven and in place before the IR-28 starts racing in 2028. Our entire INDYCAR Officiating team is buoyed by the support of the paddock and looks forward to getting started next season.” – Scot Elkins, INDYCAR Officiating managing director of officiating

“I maintain what I’ve said from the start – that INDYCAR already greatly benefited from the knowledgeable and professional officiating personnel in race control and technical inspection. Kyle Novak and Nick Allen lead tremendous teams, and I have been delighted to join and support them in my role. With Raj and Ronan, I look forward to continuing this journey of strengthening and adding another layer to an already skilled group.” – Ray Evernham, Independent Officiating Board secretary and treasurer

“I believed that this board would add another layer of experience and expertise to the process of INDYCAR Officiating, and with the quality of people who comprised that board, INDYCAR has, in fact, achieved that. I look forward to their continued participation relative to 2028 and the new IR-28 and corresponding rules and regulations.” – Chip Ganassi, Chip Ganassi Racing owner

“The implementation of the INDYCAR Officiating Board this past season was a pivotal step forward for the series to ensure fair and transparent processes and decision making across race control and tech inspection. The team and I were pleased with its effectiveness in 2026 and look forward to their continued leadership in 2027.” – Tony Kanaan, Arrow McLaren team principal

“Raj, Ray and Ronan have each brought valuable experience and perspective to their first year of service to INDYCAR Officiating, and unanimous support by the team owners has been proof of concept for the direction of independent officiating in our sport. With Scot Elkins continuing as the MDO in concert with the race control and tech inspection team already in place, officiating will build on the strong foundation and continue the mission of separation and transparency.” – Mark Miles, Penske Entertainment Corp. president and CEO

“I was pleased to see how seamlessly and successfully the established members of the team collaborated with the board to improve an already impressive product. INDYCAR Officiating is a sensible evolution and powerful way to support one of the best racing series in global motorsport. I expect 2027 will be another successful season of synergy and growth.” – Ronan Morgan, Independent Officiating Board member

“It has been a year of substantial growth for INDYCAR Officiating, and I would like to personally thank team owners, managers, drivers and partners for their unwavering support to our mission. Year two of INDYCAR Officiating will continue to build on our established baseline of process, independence, governance separation and transparency. We cannot wait to get started in the 2027 season.” – Raj Nair, Independent Officiating Board chairman

“The FIA is proud to continue our role on the INDYCAR Independent Officiating Board and to strengthen our partnership with INDYCAR and the wider motorsport community across the United States. This collaboration goes far beyond officiating – it is about sharing knowledge and expertise across safety, sporting integrity and governance, while learning from one another to deliver a stronger championship. I have been delighted to see this relationship grow over the past year and congratulate INDYCAR, its teams, drivers and officials on a historic 2026 season. We look forward to building on this momentum together in 2027.” – Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA presidentThe 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT championships begin Sunday, March 7 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. Coverage of the upcoming season will be provided by FOX, FOX Sports and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls. 
 

Ganassi Signs Christian Lundgaard To Drive No. 9 in Multiyear Deal

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Editor’s Note: This story broke yesterday, but I waited until today out of respect for Gordon Johncock. I felt he deserved an exclusive day in my posts.

From yesterday

Gordon Johncock-Champion of Life

Congratulations to Christian Lundagaard and CGR. This team will be exciting in 2027.- Ed.

From IndyCar:

Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) has signed Danish driver Christian Lundgaard to a multiyear contract to drive the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES starting in the 2027 season.

Three-time INDYCAR SERIES race winner Lundgaard (photo, above) has 16 podium finishes and 21 top-five finishes in 87 career starts. In 2026, he won races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and at Road America, and he secured a career-best third-place finish in the INDYCAR SERIES championship standings.

Lundgaard will join teammates Alex Palou and Kyffin Simpson as part of the CGR’s 2027 driver lineup. He is replacing Scott Dixon, who left CGR after 24 full-time seasons and six series championships to join Arrow McLaren in 2027.

“It is an honor and a privilege to join Chip Ganassi Racing beginning next season,” Lundgaard said. “The fact that it is in the iconic No. 9 PNC Bank Honda makes it even more special. CGR has set the standard in INDYCAR for decades, and the opportunity to be part of that legacy is something I’ve worked toward my entire career.

“I’m incredibly excited about what’s ahead. I can’t wait to get to work with everyone at Chip Ganassi Racing and compete for wins, championships and the Indianapolis 500.”

Lundgaard, 25, has quickly become a well-rounded INDYCAR SERIES talent, scoring victories on both road and street circuits and scoring his first oval podium result in 2026. He was a winning driver in Formula 2 – one step below Formula One – and served briefly a simulator driver for the Alpine F1 Team before coming to the INDYCAR SERIES in 2021 with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. He earned his first victory in 2023 at Toronto with RLL before joining Arrow McLaren in 2025.

“We are excited to welcome Christian to Chip Ganassi Racing,” team owner Chip Ganassi said. “We know he’s capable of accomplishing even more in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and we’re looking forward to helping him reach that next level with the No. 9 team.

“He’s already proven he can win races, and it isn’t often a driver of his caliber becomes available. Throughout our history, one of the things we’ve done best is identify young talent, help them maximize their potential and develop them into championship contenders. We believe Christian has all the talent to be the next driver to do that.”

PNC Bank will continue its longstanding partnership with CGR on the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda next season. PNC Bank has been a partner of the team since 2013 and a primary partner on the No. 9 since 2018. With approximately 2,300 branches and 58,000 employees, PNC is one of the largest financial institutions in the U.S.

“We are excited to begin a new era with Chip Ganassi Racing and what’s ahead with Christian taking the wheel of the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda,” said Lou Cestello, PNC Bank head of regional presidents. “He’s already achieved some remarkable milestones early in his career, and we’re looking forward to watching him build on that success in 2027 and beyond.”

The 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season starts Sunday, March 7 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.

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Gordon Johncock-Champion of Life

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To live life like Gordon Johncock is to be content. He raced and excelled at it. He retired and put all things racing aside, then focused on his lumber business, shunning the spotlight. Johncock, two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and 1976 national champion, died last night at the age of 90.

Johncock had a stellar racing career in an era of auto racing superstars, competing with A. J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, and Johnny Rutherford. He competed on an equal footing and won his fair share of races. While he may bot have grabbed the headlines that Foyt or Andretti commanded, drivers knew Johncock was someone they would have to fight for a victory.

The first word that came to my mind to describe him was gritty. Johncock was a hard charging, no nonsense racer. A look at his results from his 1976 championship show one of the most consistent seasons in IndyCar history. Johncock won just two races, but he 12 podiums, 13 top fives, and just one DNF.

His career stats – 25 wins, 20 poles, and 2 Indianapolis 500 wins- stand among the best all time Johncock was one of the most consistent drivers in history. In addition to his 1976 championship, he had nine season finishes in the top five. Johncock was third int he standings three times. fourth twice, and fifth four times.

Indianapolis 500

Johncock had great success at Indianapolis with 11top 10 results, including eight top five finishes. He could have won more than twice. In 1966 he completed the 500 miles in less time on track than winner Graham Hill, but extended time in the pits cost him track position. In 1977 Johncock was leading when the crankshaft on his car broke on lap 184, handing Foyt his fourth Indianapolis win.

His two victories ironically stand out for very different reasons. The rain-delayed, rain shortened, tragedy filled race in 1973 was one of the most forgettable days in Speedway history, but his thrilling win over Rick Mears by 0.16 seconds. At the time that finish was the closest in 500 history. It still stands as the seventh closest finish.

Johncock has two other distinctions in his Speedway career. His fifth-place finish in 1965 was the last top five finish for a front engine roadster. Johncock’s win in 1982 made him the last winner of the Indianapolis 500 to have driven both a front engine and a rear engine car in their career.

There are now only three winners who driven front and rear engine cars- Foyt, Andretti, and Johnny Rutherford. Only Foyt had riven each type to victory at Indianapolis.

Fans were puzzled when Johncock retired briefly in 1985, but he returned in 1987 and competed through the 1992 race. He then reti4red quietly and returned to Michigan to run his lumber business. He described racing as “A job I once had.” Johncock seemed content to be away from racing. He was always direct, knew what he wanted, and knew when he had had enough. That’s a lesson some pro athletes today should learn from.

I saw on social media this morning that there are only nine drivers from the 1960s still living. Time catches up with all of us, and as I have said before, if you see one of these heroes at a track, stop, say hello and thanks. The opportunities to do so are quickly dwinding.

Two-Time Indy 500 Winner Johncock Dies at 90

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Editor’s Note: A sad day for the 500 community. My thoughts will be posted tomorrow.

From IMS:

  INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, Sept. 28, 2026) – Gordon Johncock, whose stirring drive late in the 1982 Indianapolis 500 earned him a second victory in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” died of natural causes Sept. 28 at his home in South Branch, Michigan. He was 90.

Born Aug. 5, 1936, in Hastings, Michigan, the lifelong resident of the state was the INDYCAR SERIES national champion in 1976 and won 25 races in the series. Yet, Johncock was known for winning both memorable and forgettable “500s,” each time driving for Patrick Racing.

Johncock’s duel with Rick Mears in the closing laps of the 1982 race was the most thrilling to that point, prompting renowned television broadcaster Jim McKay to claim he’d “never seen anything like it.”
Johncock masterfully covered Mears’ last-lap passing attempt in Turn 1, then outran the 1979 race winner to the finish line. Their margin at the checkered flag was a then-record .16 of a second, still the seventh closest ever

.Johncock later said he was fortunate to win as he hit an unfamiliar bump low in Turn 3 on the last lap that pushed his car up the track and gave Mears an opportunity to gain ground.

“I pretty near lost it,” he told The Indianapolis Star in 2016. “Ask Rick; he saw it (because) he was right there
“I had never run that low before in Turn 3, but I knew I had to if I was going to be able to stay in the throttle. It was just a little rougher down there than I expected.”

The 1973 “500” was one of tragedy and poor weather, with rain postponing the race two days. Johncock started 11th and grabbed his first lead on Lap 40, but soon after teammate Swede Savage and crew member Armando Teran were involved in separate horrifying accidents.

Johncock, who led 64 laps, was in front of Bill Vukovich II when rain ended the race on Lap 133. With the annual Victory Banquet canceled, Johncock and his Patrick crew “celebrated” with hamburgers at a local Burger Chef restaurant after visiting Savage in the hospital.

Johncock was able to properly celebrate following his 1982 victory, and Mears said he never felt so good finishing second.

“I remember thinking during the race that if we can’t win it would be great to see him win,” Mears said.

Said Johncock of watching replays of the duel with Mears, “It gives you goosebumps … (that) well, I did it again!”

After a successful stint as a sprint car racer, Johncock’s INDYCAR SERIES career began in 1964 with a dirt race in Springfield, Illinois, and it didn’t take him long to show his talent. Johncock finished fifth as a rookie in the 1965 “500” in a roadster, in a race that saw five rookies finish in the top nine. He won for the first time nine races later at the Milwaukee Mile. Johncock also scored the first of his 20 career poles that year.

Johncock started his own team in 1967, joining A.J. Foyt as the sport’s only owner/driver. Johncock won six races during that three-year span.

Johncock nearly won a few more Indianapolis 500s. He finished third in 1976 and 1978, and he was fourth on two other occasions (1966 and 1974).

In 1977, Johncock was leading Foyt, the eventual winner, with 16 laps remaining when his car’s crankshaft broke. He had led 129 laps.

Johncock’s career in the INDYCAR SERIES spanned 262 starts over 25 seasons. He actually retired twice, the first during the first week of “500” practice in 1985. He served on the IMS Radio Network for that race. Two years later, he replaced the injured Jim Crawford and finished 22nd.

Johncock’s last “500” was in 1992 after he retired on Lap 60 with engine failure. He finished 29th. His 24 starts in the race rank fifth among all drivers, tied with Johnny Rutherford and Scott Dixon.

Johncock led 339 laps in the Indianapolis 500, which stands 15th all time.

Johncock was one of the last living drivers to have competed in front- and rear-engine Indy cars.

He was successful in stock car racing, too, competing in 21 of NASCAR’s top-division races. He made three starts in the Daytona 500, qualifying fifth in 1973. He had three top-five finishes in NASCAR, highlighted by a fourth in the 1973 Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway He also won a pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway that season.

After Johncock’s second retirement, he turned his focus to his timber business in South Branch, Michigan, located 200 miles north of Detroit. Johncock enjoyed such a quiet life away from racing that some employees were surprised to learn he had been a race car driver, much less a two-time Indy 500 winner.

Johncock kept most of his racing memorabilia in his basement, although his two winner’s plaques have shared a wall with artwork of the 1982 win, the race’s checkered flag and a stuffed deer head in his living room.

He seldom attended the “500” after retiring.

“It was a job I used to have,” Johncock said of racing.

“Now I have a different job.”

Johncock was inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 1997 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1999.Johncock is survived by his wife, Sue; three daughters (Patsy, Pamilee, Peggy), two sons (Gordon Jr., Wally); stepdaughter (Valerie); and 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. 
 

Historic Season Unleashes New Era of Growth for NTT INDYCAR SERIES 

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From IndyCar:

 INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026) – The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season was historic, record-breaking and game-changing for North America’s premier open-wheel racing series. From massive audience gains to soaring attendance, booming digital engagement and world-class competition, the series leaped forward into a new position of prominence and impact across the sporting landscape

.“This is an incredible new era for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, defined by growth, energy and momentum,” Penske Entertainment President & CEO Mark Miles said. “Our partnership with FOX Sports has raised the bar for our sport, and in turn we’ve invested in new events and opportunities to accelerate our already immense progress. Alongside our teams and partners, our commitment to maintain and expand one of the fastest growth curves in all of sports is unmatched.”

A look at the season, by the facts and numbers:

Surging Viewership

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES reached an average audience of 1.68 million viewers on FOX across an 18-race schedule. This represents the largest average viewership in almost two decades, dating back to the 2008 season. In total, nine races saw an average audience of more than 1 million viewers, also the most since the 2008 season.
The historic Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. provided particularly stellar viewership, reaching a peak audience of 3.5 million people. This was the highest tune-in for a non-Indy 500 race since 1995. With all coverage on FOX combined, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES made a record 23 appearances on broadcast television in 2026.

Rising Attendance

Race weekend attendance increased by approximately 20 percent, benchmarked by another grandstand sellout at the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and a massive crowd of 215,000 people across the Freedom 250 Grand Prix race weekend.

Additional highlights included a record-breaking weekend at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and a record-tying weekend at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. INDYCAR’s return to Phoenix Raceway resulted in doubled Saturday attendance for the promoter and additional buzz surrounding an action-packed motorsport weekend. The inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington also declared a grandstand sellout on race morning, highlighting incredible interest in the new event powered by a joint venture between INDYCAR, the Dallas Cowboys and REV Entertainment.

Impressive Digital GainsINDYCAR’s social channels reached new heights in 2026, led by notable milestones in engagement and video consumption. The 2026 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge delivered the most popular digital day in NTT INDYCAR SERIES history, with more than 1.5 million engagements. In addition, there were more than 250 million video views across social and digital channels, also a new record.
The INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA delivered a record-breaking performance in 2026 with the highest-ever average race day users across the season and a nearly 20 percent increase in screen views compared to 2025. The immersive relationship with NTT also celebrated a monumental moment in May, as NTT, Inc., together with NTT DATA Group Corporation, announced continued sponsorship of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES
.INDYCAR’s YouTube channel saw significant growth for the 2026 season with a 58 percent increase in watch time, a 41 percent increase in view duration and a nearly 70 percent growth in livestream views.
The new, digital-first docuseries “ALL IN: INDYCAR” also expanded the sport’s dedicated shoulder programming and reached a new and younger audience. Produced by INDYCAR in tandem with FOX Sports and Tom Brady’s Shadow Lion, “ALL IN: INDYCAR” racked up more than 6 million views on YouTube, averaging almost 500,000 views an episode.

Merchandise Sales Soar

NTT INDYCAR SERIES merchandise flew off the shelves across the season, with a nearly 40 percent increase in race weekend sales. The series set a new non-Indy 500 sales record in Arlington, only to break it months later on the streets of Washington. New and expanded lines were unveiled with brands such as Homefield, True Brand, Flag & Anthem, Under Armour, Travis Matthew, Lululemon and more.

World-Class Competition

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES once again featured intense, high-speed drama and competition, powered by a global field of elite drivers. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou, at just 29 years old, became the youngest five-time champion in INDYCAR SERIES history. Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian’s Felix Rosenqvist earned his first Indy 500 victory in the closest finish in the race’s storied century-plus history.Competition remained fierce throughout the 18-race schedule, with eight different drivers winning races and a record 20 drivers making at least one Firestone Fast Six qualifying appearance. In total, nine different race teams were represented on the podium in 2026

.IR-28 Unveiled

With momentum on its side, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES also showcased its commitment to the future with the unveiling of the IR-28 car that will be introduced for the start of the 2028 season. Lighter, faster and built to break track records, the IR-28 will encourage more wheel-to-wheel action through improved raceability, while its innovative and modern design will also engage a new generation of fans.

“The IR-28 unveil was a massive milestone for the sport, and it has been incredible to get so much positive feedback from both our drivers and our fans,” INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said.
“To capitalize on our momentum, we need to be constantly innovating and look toward the future, and the IR-28 reflects our commitment to this mindset.”

The IR-28 also showcases the continued commitment of Chevy and Honda as INDYCAR’s Official Engine Manufacturers (OEM). The 2026 calendar year started with news that both partners had committed to new OEM agreements running multiple years, reflecting the upward trajectory of the sport and continued investments in its growth

.Stay tuned for more NTT INDYCAR SERIES updates as the sport turns the page on the 2026 season and prepares for an action-packed and highly anticipated 2027. 

From yesterday on this site:

Battle on the Bricks- Some Thoughts

Hauger Joins A. J. Foyt Racing for 2027

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Photos and text from A. J. Foyt Racing

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 16, 2026) — AJ Foyt Racing has signed 2026 NTT INDYCAR Series Rookie of the Year Dennis Hauger to a multi-year agreement beginning with the 2027 season.

Hauger, 23, joins the team following his first season in the NTT INDYCAR Series and brings an impressive résumé for one of the youngest drivers in the paddock.

The Norwegian came to America in 2025 to compete in INDY NXT by Firestone and quickly made

himself known. Hauger won six races and the championship in his rookie season before moving up to INDYCAR in 2026, where he earned Rookie of the Year honors.

Hauger poses with his hardware after winning the FIA Formula 3 title in 2021.

Prior to racing in America, Hauger competed his way through the European open-wheel ranks. He was the Italian Formula 4 Champion in 2019 and the FIA Formula 3 Champion in 2021 before moving into Formula 2, where he won five races. Hauger was also a longtime member of the Red Bull Junior Team.

For Team President Larry Foyt, the combination of Hauger’s experience, youth and ability to adapt made him an attractive addition as Foyt continues to build for 2027 and beyond.

“Dennis has accomplished a lot for someone who is only 23,” said Foyt. “Every time he’s moved into something new, he’s adapted quickly and he’s won. Coming over here and winning in INDY NXT as a rookie certainly got everyone’s attention, and then we watched how he progressed through his rookie season in INDYCAR.

Hauger is looking forward to driving the No. 14 Homes For Our Troops Chevrolet in 2027.

“I’m really excited about it,” said Hauger. “Larry and I have had some very good conversations about the team and where they want to go. I’ve learned a lot in my first two years racing in America, but I still feel like there is a lot more for me to learn and accomplish in INDYCAR.

“This team has so much history in this sport, but what intrigues me even more was hearing about the future and what they’re building now. I want to work hard with everyone there and see how far we can take it.”

Hiring Hauger is an integral part of Foyt’s plan for the future of the team his father founded in 1965.

“We’ve spent a lot of time talking about where we want this team to go,” Foyt said. “We’re investing in our people, our technical side and our commercial program because we want to continue moving forward. Dennis is a big part of that plan.

“We’re fortunate to have partners like Hendricks Holding Company and Homes For Our Troops who believe in what we’re doing with the No. 14 program. They’ve given us the opportunity to keep building, and now it’s our job to make the most of it.”

Hauger will also be introduced to another important part of the No. 14 program when he makes his first public appearance with AJ Foyt Racing next month.

On October 2, Hauger will join the team at the GM Defense Valor & Velocity Gala at the GM Design Dome in Warren, Michigan, where the Homes For Our Troops Indy car will be on display. The evening supports the Medal of Honor Foundation and will bring together senior GM leadership, military leaders and members of the U.S. defense community.

Also attending will be Diane Hendricks and her daughter Konya Hendricks Schuh of Hendricks Holding Company, Inc., General (USA, Ret) Richard A. Cody, Chairman of the Board of Homes For Our Troops and President/CEO of Homes For Our Troops and Brigadier General, USA (Ret) Tom Landwermeyer.

The HFOT home is always single level and the doorways and rooms are wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair. There are many adaptations within the home to help Veterans rebuild their lives and regain their independence.

Homes For Our Troops builds and donates specially adapted custom homes for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans. The organization has been represented throughout the season on Foyt’s No. 14 Chevrolet.

“I’ve been learning more about Homes For Our Troops and what the No. 14 HFOT.org car represents,” Hauger said. “It’s obviously much bigger than racing, and I’m looking forward to meeting General Cody, Diane and Konya and learning more about it. To have my first event with the team connected to Homes For Our Troops and supporting the Medal of Honor Foundation makes it a pretty special way to get started.”

The gala will give Hauger an opportunity to meet many of the people behind the No. 14 program before the focus turns toward preparing for his first season with Foyt.

Hauger’s signing is the first of additional announcements expected from AJ Foyt Racing regarding its 2027 driver lineup in the coming weeks.

For Larry Foyt, the goal behind all of the changes remains pretty simple.

“Dennis wants to win, and we want to win,” Foyt said. “That’s where everything starts.”

About Dennis Hauger

Dennis Hauger, born March 17, 2003, in Norway, is the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year and 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone Champion. His racing résumé includes the 2021 FIA Formula 3 Championship title, the 2019 Italian Formula 4 Championship title and five Formula 2 victories. A former member of the Red Bull Junior Team, Hauger moved his racing career to the United States in 2025.

 

About Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) 

Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) is a publicly funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans, enabling them to rebuild their lives. Most of these Veterans have sustained life-altering injuries, including multiple limb amputations, partial or full paralysis, and/or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). These homes restore some of the freedom and independence our Veterans sacrificed while defending our country and enable them to focus on their family, recovery, and rebuilding their lives. Since its inception in 2004, nearly 90 cents of every dollar spent has gone directly to programs supporting Veterans. HFOT has built over 440 specially adapted custom homes nationwide, with 67 active projects and more than 1,800 additional Veterans who may qualify. 

 

About Hendricks Holding Company, Inc. (HHC)

Hendricks Holding Company, Inc. (HHC) is a private holding company that invests in, and oversees diverse, financially strong, and sustainable companies. HHC supports its portfolio companies by providing resources to help them achieve their business goals and deliver best-in-class services.

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Swedish Hometown To Honor Indy 500 Winner Rosenqvist with Public Celebration

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FromIMS:

  INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026) – 2026 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Felix Rosenqvist will be honored Saturday, Dec. 5 by his hometown, Värnamo, during a public celebration in the Swedish city.
Local residents, motorsports fans and visitors from near and far are invited to join the city in celebrating his historic victory May 24 in the Indianapolis 500. The free, family-friendly event will take place in central Värnamo with Rosenqvist as the guest of honor.
“Celebrating an Indy 500 victory in my hometown will be an unforgettable way to conclude the best year of my life,” Rosenqvist said.
“Sharing an occasion like this with everyone in Värnamo, where the dream began, will feel completely surreal. It will truly be one of those pinch-me moments.
“It is truly amazing to think that we will all be able to experience and share this together. I am really looking forward to seeing friends, family and everyone else in Värnamo in December.”T
he program will include tributes from the stage, interviews, live music and motorsports-themed activities. Representatives from INDYCAR will take part in the celebration. Additional news and highlights will be announced closer to the event
.Rosenqvist earned his first victory in ”The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in the No. 60 Honda for Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian. He beat David Malukas of Team Penske by .0233 of a second in the closest finish in the century-plus history of the race.
“Felix Rosenqvist’s success is an outstanding achievement that has inspired tremendous pride and joy throughout Värnamo,” said Staffan Svensson, project manager and destination development officer at Värnamo Municipality.
”We want to give the people of Värnamo and the motorsports community an opportunity to celebrate him together, while also showcasing the strong sense of community and local pride that exists here.”
The event is being jointly organized by Värnamo Näringsliv, Värnamo City and Värnamo Municipality.
“This partnership reflects the strong sense of community that makes Värnamo what it is,” said Anki Hansson of Värnamo Näringsliv. ”Together, we want to create a public celebration that honors Felix while also welcoming visitors to Värnamo.” 
 

Palou had ‘Fun;’ Found Some Speed

thepitwindow

Alex Palou had his turn in the IR-28 on the IMS oval Thursday. despite a stoppage for rain, the entire run plan for today got completed.

Today was cooler than Wednesday, and the new Indy race car responded. Some media members clocked speeds in the 217 mph range and a best lap pf 218.1 mph.

“Very fun,” the five-time series champion said. “At the beginning, it was super fun because it’s a new car and you’re back at the Speedway. Then you’re like, ‘Can we go faster?’ “

Palou said he had not talked with Alexander Rossi, who tested the car Wednesday, in detail.

 “I think he did a lot of basic stuff. Even us, we did a lot of basic stuff and trying to get a lot of data for Dallara itself to try and see what the car is doing when we get like crazy ride heights up, down, like just trying to get like basic numbers.”

“We got a lot more laps than I expected with the weather, and the car felt good,” Palou said. “We actually got quite a lot of speed. We improved over 2 miles an hour throughout the day, and we didn’t really work too much to get it.”

Palou noted that the test machine does not have the hybrid component installed. He expects the car to be faster when the final package is complete next year. Palou corroborated Rossi’s assessment of the similarity between the new car and the current one.

The schedule for future testing has not been announced, but there will be a test at Sebring this fall. Palou believes he will be one of the drivers at the Florida track.

Notes

Some observations from this non gear head:

The IR-28 has a leaner and seemingly lower profile than the current racer.

The trash basket look of the current aeroscreen in a head on view is gone, giving the car a sleeker look.

That rear wing will take some getting used to. It looks like an F1 car deploying DRS. I have no idea how it is supposed to work.

I love the livery IndyCar is using for the test. I remarked to a fellow media member today that IndyCar should mandate the use of this design each race weekend in 2028.

Thanks for following along these two days. It was fun watching this machine run on the oval..

Below are a few photos from today.

Rossi: IR-28 “Pretty Standard”

thepitwindow

Alexander Rossi evaluated his test in the Dallara IR-28 on its first oval run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway today.

“It does everything that INDYCAR SERIES machinery should do around here,” Rossi said. “We got through some basic mechanical and aero changes to kind of understand the offsets that they’re going to present to us in a couple of years, and there was no surprise. It was really pretty standard.”

Alewxander Rossi talks about his test day.

The 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner and Mike O’Gara, INDYCAR’s vice president of Competition and Race Engineering, both emphasized that Wednesday’s objective was to gather information, not to look for speed or performance.

Rossi ran sets of five laps or fewer as engineers collected data. I’m not sure Rossi turned a lap much above 210 mph.

Today’s test was cut about an hour short by a brief rain just after 4 pm.

Tomorrow IndyCar series champion Alex Palou will have turn in the new machine with the same goals in mind as today’s session.

tomorrow’s test is scheduled to run from 9 am until 5 pm Eastern time. Turn 2 viewing mounds are open.

Some more photos of the new car: