Tag: NTT Indycar Series

ECR Confirms Rossi, Rasmussen for 2025

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From Ed Carpenter Racing:

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (September 25, 2024) – Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) announced today the team’s driver lineup for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. Indianapolis 500 champion Alexander Rossi will join the team behind the wheel of the No. 20 Chevrolet for 2025 and Christian Rasmussen, who recently completed his rookie season with ECR, has been elevated to full-time driver of the No. 21 Chevrolet, both on multi-year deals. Team co-owner Ed Carpenter will round out ECR’s three-car lineup for the Indianapolis 500. This news comes on the heels of welcoming Heartland Food Products Group and their iconic brands, Splenda and Java House, to the ECR family.
Carpenter is thrilled with both the addition of veteran Rossi and the future for Rasmussen. 
“It is an exciting day to not only welcome Alex to the team, but to extend our relationship with Christian,” said Carpenter. “We are very excited about our lineup, and other partnership announcements that will be forthcoming. As excited as I am about these additions, I also want to thank Rinus (VeeKay) for his five years with the team. It is always hard to say goodbye to a teammate and a friend, but I am confident that Rinus’ career will continue to blossom. As we look ahead to 2025 and beyond, I am fully focused on getting ECR back to new heights, winning races and contending for championships.”
Rossi joins ECR after nine previous seasons in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Rossi has 30 career podium finishes, including eight victories, most notably the 2016 Indianapolis 500. The Nevada City, California native was the first American rookie to win since 1928. Rossi’s talent has taken him worldwide, with wins in F2, World Series by Renault, and the 24 Hours of Daytona along with starts in a Formula 1, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Baja 1000 and the Bathurst 1000. 
Rossi is eager to join his new team and begin preparations for the 2025 season. 
“I’m honored that Ed (Carpenter) and the entire ECR ownership group recognize the value I can bring to the team,” said Rossi. “Their commitment to excellence, along with the power of Chevrolet and the ambitious plans they have for the future made this opportunity impossible to pass up. I’m eager to get started and contribute to the team’s continued success.”
Rasmussen’s performance in his rookie NTT INDYCAR SERIES season earned him the opportunity to continue with ECR in a full-time role. Rasmussen joined ECR in 2024 after winning three championships in four years, including the 2023 INDY NXT title. In his debut Indianapolis 500, he drove from 24th to 12th and was the highest finishing rookie in the field. While Carpenter was scheduled to drive the No. 20 in the final three oval races of 2024, he provided the seat to Rasmussen to continue his development. Though he had not driven a lap at the Milwaukee Mile prior, he finished just outside of the Top 10. At the season finale at Nashville Superspeedway, Rasmussen drove from 25th to 14th and secured a Leader’s Circle position for the No. 20. 
After a partial rookie year, Rasmussen is excited to race the full season next year. 
“I’m incredibly excited to earn a full-time role with Ed Carpenter Racing,” said Rasmussen. “My rookie year in INDYCAR was full of firsts, and I can’t wait to bring everything I’ve learned into my second season. I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity and looking forward to team up with Alexander (Rossi) to push the team forward and fight towards the front of the grid more consistently.” 
Carpenter will return to the driver’s seat in the team’s third entry for the 2025 Indianapolis 500, rounding out the team’s lineup. Additional announcements regarding the upcoming season will be made in due course. The 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship will begin March 2, 2025 in the downtown Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.
About Ed Carpenter Racing Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) first entered the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2012. The Indianapolis-based race team has proven its versatility by collecting eight wins across each type of track the series competes on – street and road courses, short ovals and speedways. ECR is led by IndyCar’s only team owner/driver, Ed Carpenter, three-time pole winner for the Indianapolis 500 (2013, 2014 and 2018). The 2025 season will see Carpenter compete in the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500. The 2025 season will see Alexander Rossi in the No. 20 Chevrolet as he joins the team alongside returning Christian Rasmussen in the No. 21 Chevrolet. More information on Ed Carpenter Racing may be found at http://www.edcarpenterracing.com/.

Unchartered Waters- Questions About the IndyCar Charter System

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The newly launched IndyCar charter system looks to be a assortment of pros and cons. It is a better deal for the owners, but what’s in it for the fans? Idon’t see a lot, and that is my concern about it.

The team owners have a potential to gain value and sponsors while they own a team and when they sell it. I wasn’t sure how the business side will work, but I read an excellent article about the money aspect last night by Elizabeth Blackstock on Planet F1. She explains in depth how the charter works for the team owners and the potential for a team’s growth.

I get that part, and I am glad that teams which have annually struggled for cash have a new potential revenue source.

My concern is what the fans will see. No team may have more than three charters. The 25 chartered teams are each guaranteed a spot in every race except the Indianapolis 500. Races other than the 500 have a cap of 27 starters. The Leaders’ Circle money will still be awarded to the top 22 entries. Only chartered teams are eligible for the Leaders’ Circle. No entry may use more than three drivers in a season. Let’s see what that means

Only two non-charter teams will be able to start each race other than the 500. PREMA joins the series in 2025. They do not have a charter, as that privilege went to teams that participated in 2023. PREMA will be able to start each race since there will be only 27 total entries, but why would another team want to join under these rules? Why would a third OEM come into IndyCar when they would have a limited number of teams to choose from? The charter could stifle the series’ growth. I’m concerned that IndyCar may eventually become a member nly series, where you need a charter to compete.

Is the three drivers per season limit realistic? Dale Coyne used numerous drivers in 2024 for monetary reasons. What if the original driver is injured, the second driver runs out of money, and the third driver can’t run because of a previous commitment? Does that car withdraw from the next event? Maybe owning a charter will bring in enough cash to avoid the money issue.

There are many questions to be sorted out, and we won’t really know how it will work until we see it in action. Iam happy for the owners of the lower funded teams, but as a fan, I’m not sure how it benefits m enjoyment of the sport. We shall see in 2025.

ED CARPENTER RACING ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIANA BUSINESSMAN TED GELOV OF HEARTLAND FOOD PRODUCTS GROUP

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The headline and article are from Ed Carpenter Racing:

Longtime NTT INDYCAR SERIES Team Welcomes New Partner; Gelov To Become Co-Owner of ECR
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (September 24, 2024) – Indianapolis businessman Ted Gelov, owner of Heartland Food Products Group, has joined Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) as co-owner of the team. Additionally, the new partnership will bring Heartland FPG’s iconic brands, Splenda (www.Splenda.com) and Java House (www.Javahouse.com), together with Ed Carpenter Racing as the team begins preparations for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. 
Gelov and Heartland are positive additions for the Indianapolis-based team. 
“INDYCAR is growing and attracting high caliber brands and in Ted’s case, also a strong business partner for our team,” said Ed Carpenter. “Ted (Gelov) will help us to continue to strive for excellence both on and off the track.” 
Gelov, owner of Heartland, expressed excitement for the new partnership. 
“We manufacture all our products here in Indiana and employ over 1,200 people,” said Gelov. “We are committed to the Indiana community and are extremely excited to continue that by joining Ed Carpenter Racing. I am ready to do my part to help Ed (Carpenter) and ECR in any way we can to get on the podium and win races!”
He continued, “Ed (Carpenter), Tony George, and Stuart Reed have all been wonderful to me through this process. They have welcomed my family and I into their family. Ed is an incredible guy, in all respects, and someone you are drawn to be associated with. He embodies the ideals that I look for in a partner.”
Heartland FPG is best known for their consumer brands Splenda and Java House Coffee. The Splenda® Brand is the most recognizable and iconic low-calorie sweetener brand in the world, having sold more than 100 billion yellow packets since its launch in 1991. Java House, an innovative cold brew coffee brand, is known for amazingly smooth coffee and versatile Peel n Pour™ single serve beverages. Java House also owns and operates cafes in the Indianapolis and Lafayette, IN markets.
Carpenter quickly knew Gelov and Heartland would be the right fit for ECR. 
“It’s fantastic to find a partner that so closely aligns with our values and shared vision for the future of Ed Carpenter Racing,” Carpenter added. “We also plan on having a Java House or Splenda car on track next season, which would be special for us to work with one of our own brands. There is more to come!”
2025 will mark ECR’s 14th season of competition in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The stable of the No. 20 and No. 21 Chevrolet will return to the paddock with an updated lineup, with an announcement planned for tomorrow afternoon. The Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida will host the 2025 season opener on March 2nd.
About Heartland and Java House Brands Heartland Food Products Group makes its products, including Splenda® its ultra-smooth Java House® Cold Brew Coffee, in Indianapolis. Go to JavaHouse.com and Sweet Splenda Brands to learn more about these iconic brands.  
About Ed Carpenter Racing Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) first entered the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2012. The Indianapolis-based race team has proven its versatility by collecting eight wins across each type of track the series competes on – street and road courses, short ovals and speedways. ECR is led by IndyCar’s only team owner/driver, Ed Carpenter, three-time pole winner for the Indianapolis 500 (2013, 2014 and 2018).

New Era: Charter System Established for NTT INDYCAR SERIES Team Owners 

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 INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, Sept. 23, 2024) – INDYCAR confirmed today the establishment of a charter system across the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. In total, owners of 10 teams have accepted charters for 25 entries competing in North America’s premier open-wheel racing series, beginning immediately.
“This is an important development that demonstrates an aligned and optimistic vision for the future of our sport,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “I want to extend my sincere appreciation to our team owners for their collaboration and ideation throughout this process. Ultimately, we’re pleased to have a system in place that provides greater value for our ownership and the entries they field.”
This is the first charter system to be introduced in the history of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. A chartered entry is guaranteed a starting position on the grid at all NTT INDYCAR SERIES races, excluding the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. An entry also must be chartered to qualify for the annual NTT INDYCAR SERIES Leaders Circle program – an annual award program that compensates the 22 top finishers in the prior year’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship. The terms of the initial, long-term charter agreements are committed through the end of 2031.

Chartered 2025 INDYCAR Teams
NTT INDYCAR SERIES
Team Entries
A.J. Foyt Enterprises 2
Andretti Global 3
Arrow McLaren 3
Chip Ganassi Racing 3
Dale Coyne Racing 2
Ed Carpenter Racing 2
Juncos Hollinger Racing 2
Meyer Shank Racing 2
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing 3
Team Penske 3
Charters were extended to team owners based on full-time entries over the previous two seasons, with a maximum of three awarded per team.

WHAT INDYCAR’S TEAM OWNERS ARE SAYING
“I appreciate the efforts made by the INDYCAR and Penske leadership groups, as well as all the owners, to get this charter system started. It is incredibly challenging to get a large group of owners to agree on something, and certainly there was some give and take, but, in the end, I believe this is a path that is beneficial for all of the owners and for INDYCAR, while also maintaining the availability for open competition.” – Larry Foyt, A.J. Foyt Enterprises

“When you look back in the modern era of INDYCAR racing, you will look at a few important moments, the first being the unification of the sport, the next being Roger Penske buying the INDYCAR SERIES and IMS, and I truly believe the third will be the charter system.” – Chip Ganassi, Chip Ganassi Racing

“We are very pleased to begin this new era. The process has been thorough but, in the end, very exciting. This charter system will clearly strengthen our teams as we continue to grow the sport. I would like to thank Roger (Penske) and his entire team at INDYCAR.“ECR will have announcements soon, and I don’t know that they would be possible without the help of a program like this. With this groundbreaking development, the new TV deal with FOX and the momentum that had been building, INDYCAR’s future is very bright.” – Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing

“The charter agreement, to me, is the single-most important piece for the future of the series. I’m grateful that we all came together on this and thank the Roger Penske group for working with the team owners for getting it done.” – Michael Shank, Meyer Shank Racing

The 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season begins Sunday, March 2 at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding on the streets of St. Petersburg. The entire 17-race schedule will be available live on FOX and the INDYCAR Radio Network. 
 

Armstrong Signs with Meyer Shank Racing

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Marcus Armstrong signed with Meyer Shank racing this morning. It was an expected move and keeps Armstrong affiliated with Chip Ganassi racing since MSR will have a technical partnership with Ganassi in 2025.

The official announcement from MSR:

Marcus Armstrong Joins Meyer Shank Racing for 2025 INDYCAR Season

Pataskala, Ohio (19 September 2024) – Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) will add a new face to its 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES stable with the addition of Marcus Armstrong who will run the No. 66 MSR entry alongside current MSR driver Felix Rosenqvist. 

Coming from a strong open wheel background that includes F4, Formula 3 and Formula 2, Armstrong is now looking to build on his first two seasons of INDYCAR competition as he joins MSR in 2025. 

Armstrong was quick to adapt to the INDYCAR series, earning Rookie of the Year in 2023 despite only contesting the road course rounds, taking five top tens in his 12 starts.

The New Zealander added ovals to his INDYCAR calendar in 2024, running the full 17-points paying races this past season, taking three top five finishes including his first INDYCAR podium  in Detroit.

“I’m very proud to be joining Meyer Shank Racing in 2025,” said Armstrong. “I had a great feeling when I met both Mike Shank and Jim Meyer, their passion for performance and meticulous work ethic was obvious from our first conversation and I want to thank them both for this opportunity. I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone at MSR over the off-season with the goal of hitting the ground running at the first race of the season in St Pete.

“This year I got closer to where I want to be performance wise, including oval racing for the first time and I’m looking forward to continuing to push up the order with MSR. We want to be at the front, fighting for wins and I believe we have the recipe to do it.”

MSR, which will be entering its ninth season running in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, is eager to build on its momentum from the 2024 season which saw the team qualify in the top six, 15 times and finish in the top ten, 10 times. MSR team co-owner, Mike Shank is confident that with the addition of Armstrong for 2025, the team is in a position to produce consistent results next year.

“We’re very excited to welcome Marcus onboard,” said Shank. “He’s really shown a lot of growth and consistency in his first two years in INDYCAR, which is really difficult to do. This series is probably one of the most competitive series out there and he has proven himself to be a real contender. We are going to do everything we can to give him the car and the tools to produce results next year.”

With the 2024 season closing out this past weekend, MSR will begin preparations right away to be ready for the 2025 season opener in St. Petersburg in March. 

Drama, Chaos, Controversy, and Some Good On-Track Action Too-IndyCar 2024

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Photo by Kle McInnes

It was an exciting season for the NTT Indycar series in 2024. At times, the off track goings on overshadowed the racing product, which experienced an uneven tear.

From the St. Pete push to pass scandal to controversy with Agustin Canapino fans, charter talks, and driver popularity in their home country, fans did not lack for off track topics to discuss.

The delayed hybrid introduction, which didn’t come in until Mid Ohio, had little effect on the championship, although its dispute was inauspicious as Scott Dixon stalled in turn 5 of the pace lap.

The racing varied from snoozers to great6 as the series, teams, and Firestone worked to adjust to the extra weight of the new system. In the end they got it right as the races at Gateway and Milwaukee produced some great oval racing. Nashville was better than expected too.

In 2025 seven of the first eight tracks will see the hybrid in action for the first time., including the energy recovery system’s debut in the Indianapolis 500.

Drivers of Note

Obviously Alex Palou had a good year, but here I will recognize some drivers who had outstanding year which exceeded most people’s expectations.

Felix Rosenqvist– Rosenqvist won a pole and made the fast Six several times for Meyer Shank Racing. He hung around the top 10 in points for much of the season before ending up 12th. The team rewarded Rosenqvist with a two year extension. Rosenqvist is thriving after leaving Arrow mcLaren, and we should see the race results improve next year.

Santino Ferrucci – Ninth in the final standings, a frequent visitor to the top 10, and his first career pole, Ferrucci gave A. J. Foyt Racing their best season in a long time. With David Malukas as a teammate in 2025, I can see this team earning a few podiums and possibly winning a race next year.

David Malukas – jettisoned by Arrow McLaren when his preseason wrist injury did not heal, Malukas was signed by Meyer Shank Racing after the Indianapolis 500 and brought the floundering 66 car into the Leaders’ Circle. including a strong performance at Nashville where he contended for the lead. Malukas earned 148 points in little more than half a season. Teammate Rosenqvist had 306 points for a full year.

Returning to Form

Arrow McLaren and Andretti had difficult years in 2023, but both teams had a bit of a bounce back this season. Pato O’Ward won three times for Arrow McLaren, and Colton Herta won twice for Andretti Global. Both drivers had chances to win several other races.

Andretti retains the same lineup of Herta, Kyle Kirkwood, and Marcus Ericsson for 2025, while Arrow McLaren replaces Alexander Rossi with Christian Lundgaard. It would be nice to see these two in the mix every weekend.

The Pit Window Awards

The coveted Pit Window Awards go to:

Best races– Indianapolis 500; Milwaukee Race 1 and Milwaukee Race 2 in any order.

Worst races– Iowa race1 and Iowa race 2 in any order. I think Race 1 was slightly better.

Most Improved Driver– Santino Ferrucci. -He went from a 19th place finish in the points in 2023 to ninth this year.

Super Sub– Conor Daly. Daly replaced Agustin Canapino in the 78 and brought a struggling team into the Leaders’ Circle. When Daly retires, this award will be named after him.

Many Thanks

This column is nothing without the loyal readers who follow The Pit window. I appreciate all of you. Thank you for your continued support.

A huge thank you to Kyle McInnes, who shot most of the photos you saw here this season. Kyle added a lot to these posts. His artwork added a lot to this post.

Thank you to NBC for a decade of great coverage. You will be missed, FOX has a high bar to reach.

A shoutout to all the track media directors who kindly allowed me access. They have a thankless job, and I appreciate their giving me space to work.

Lastly, my travels would not be possible without the support of my partner in crime, er, life, Marti Strum, who encourages to go on these adventures, including the big one i took in June.

I will have some pieces on the Battle on the Bricks at IMS this weekend, although I am attending as a fan. Like an Indycar engine at 10,000 miles, I have reached my mileage limit.

PREMA Signs Ilott

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This announcement was long suspected, now it’s official. Great to have Ilott back in the series full time.

from PREMA:

PREMA Racing announces that Callum Ilott will join the team’s brand-new NTT INDYCAR SERIES operation for its 2025 debut in the series.
 
The 25-year-old British, a veteran of 38 INDYCAR starts and two top-5 finishes, is no stranger to the PREMA family. Ilott joined the team for the first time in 2017, delivering six wins and 11 podium finishes in the Formula 3 European Championship. He is now set for a welcomed return to the team, and will be driving a Chevrolet-powered Dallara for PREMA’s highly-anticipated American effort.
 
One of the most brilliant kart racers of his generation, Ilott later moved to the GP3 Series in 2018, and eventually made his FIA Formula 2 debut in 2019. In the following season, he was a runner-up in the F1 feeder series, before moving to Endurance racing and eventually to INDYCAR in 2021. Earlier this year, he claimed his maiden FIA WEC Hypercar win in the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.
 
Ilott also had the chance to make multiple Formula 1 outings in testing and practice between 2019 and 2021. He took part in two Free Practice sessions with Alfa Romeo Racing and also served as a Scuderia Ferrari Test Driver in 2021.
 
He has now the chance to be part of a new chapter in the history of PREMA in one of the world’s most competitive racing series.

René Rosin – Team Owner, PREMA Racing
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Callum back with us for this new chapter of our history. We had a great time working with him in Formula 3, and we always kept an eye on him after that. He proved to be a great fit for us in the past, and I think he will feel like picking up something he had left off. He proved his outstanding speed skills everywhere he competed. In addition, his prior IndyCar experience will be an invaluable asset. Now that the opportunity to get back together has come, we are determined to make the most out of it.

Piers Phillips – CEO, PREMA Racing INDYCAR
“We are really looking forward to welcoming Callum to our INDYCAR team. His previous experiences in the series, combined with those with PREMA, will make him a key asset as we try to merge the team’s European heritage with what it will be able to learn in the US. We know Callum as a very talented driver, but we can also see how his professionalism has matured in the series. The information and feedback he will be able to share will be extremely important, as much as his impressive racing skills.”

Callum Ilott
“It’s an incredible opportunity to experience INDYCAR with PREMA, their first steps in the series and in the US. What an amazing chance. I love the racing, I love these cars and I love the team, so it’s great to be back to what they call the Italian family home. It’s going to be something special to build off, a lot of hard work but I’m excited to join the team and see what we can do together.”

Music City Wrap Up

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What began as a journey into the unknown with rain looming to complicate things turned into a stellar IndyCar Finale weekend. The series had several obstacles delaying its racing at Nashville Superspeedway. The decision to move the event from downtown Nashville to the oval came in February. IndyCar needed tire testing. The series had not raced here in 16 years. How would the race go? How can an oval event match the festival that is a street course event?

The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix ended up doing a great job. many of the amenities from the street race simply moved to the track. There were pit lane suites, shuttles from downtown, and luxury bus to take fans to the grandstands from the infield and back. The fans who attended seemed to have a great time, and they were rewarded with a good race.

The Facility

This weekend was my first time at Nashville Superspeedway. The track has had minimal use since 2008, and a company was about to purchase it and tear it down. I, for one, am thankful that it didn’t happen. The grounds are in excellent shape. The grandstand tower looks brand new, and the concourses are wide and clean.

Fans can see the entire track without obstruction from the stands. The area in pit lane is about the widest of any track Indycar uses.

The garage area is nice, with ample room to work.

Why IndyCar stopped coming here is beyond me.

The Crowd

Attendance was better than expected, but I was hoping for more. There was competition from the Titans home opener at the site of the previous grand prixs, and I heard that many locals were not aware that the race had moved.

On the plane to Portland, I sat next to a man from Nashville. He seemed to be a somewhat active community member. he was aware of the grand prix, but he had no idea it would the speedway this year.

The Race

Anytime there is a pass for the lead with fewer than five laps to go, it has to be considered a good race. While the action did not reach the heights we saw at Milwaukee, there was quite a bit of intrigue. It’s too bad that Will Power’s seat belt issue on lap 12 ended any doubt about the season championship so early. The use of alternate tires added to the strategy calls, and I had no idea who would win. David Malukas, Pato O’Ward, Josef Newgarden, and Colton Herta all looked to have a chance.

Herta appeared to have the fastest car, and I had a feeling it was his race after the third round of stops. Herta had to dig deep to win it, though.

An oval like this is exactly the place for the IndyCar finale. It would be even better to have this race ar night. The cars colors pop under the lights, and the cooling air temperatures changes the handling of the cars. My favorite final race was the on I attended in Fontana in 2013. It was a night race, and there was non stop action and drama.

Overall, I thought it was great weekend. School is out until March.