The Team Penske AJ Foyt alliance will continue into the 2026 IndyCar season, according to AJ Foyt Racing president Larry Foyt. This update comes after recent changes in both team rosters and sponsorship, ensuring the alliance remains a central strategy for both organizations moving forward.
On Veterans Day, November 11, AJ Foyt Racing announced a season-long sponsorship for its No. 14 Chevrolet, driven by Santino Ferrucci, with Hendricks Commercial Properties. While this new partnership made headlines, Foyt addressed lingering questions about whether the partnership with Team Penske would also persist, offering clarity following several shakeups within both teams.
How the Alliance Shaped Team Development
AJ Foyt Racing and Team Penske first formalized their technical partnership in mid-2023. The deal allowed Foyt’s team to access advanced technical support, positioning them as a strong development ground for emerging drivers and mechanics. The alliance functioned as a key channel for Team Penske’s training initiatives, and AJ Foyt Racing reaped benefits in terms of both performance and talent development during this period.
The relationship grew more integrated in 2025 when David Malukas signed with Penske and was initially set with AJ Foyt Racing. Sponsorships tied to Roger Penske’s organization, including brands from its sponsor lineup, appeared on Malukas’ entry at races such as the Portland Grand Prix, illustrating the synergy operating at multiple levels within the partnership.
However, the landscape shifted when Malukas was elevated to replace Will Power at Team Penske, prompting fresh speculation about the alliance’s status. Addressing such concerns, Larry Foyt provided assurance:
“Yeah, I think the Penske things are good. I think I see that continuing. So far, no, everything looks really good for next year to pick up right where we left off.
Following Malukas’s departure, AJ Foyt Racing welcomed 2025 Indy NXT runner-up Caio Collet, who has already completed two on-track tests with the team, signaling continued investment in developing young talent.
Santino Ferrucci’s Reflections on the 2025 Season’s Challenges
Santino Ferrucci had an impressive 2024 campaign, marking his first full season benefitting from the Team Penske AJ Foyt alliance. He posted 11 top-10 finishes in 17 starts and scored two top-5 results during the Milwaukee doubleheader, ending the year ninth in the overall standings—a personal best.
In 2025, however, Ferrucci found consistent results elusive. Despite celebrating two podium finishes, he only managed four additional top-10 results, representing a downturn in form. At a press conference following the announcement of the new sponsorship, Ferrucci revealed what contributed to the shift:
“Part of the learning curve this coming season, we had a slight difference in dampers and book build from Penske,” Santino Ferrucci said. “The alliance, it’s really, really good for us. All of my references and everything we built with Adam and James the previous year had shifted quite a bit. We kind of struggled to figure out how to adjust to that shift accordingly. It took us longer than we anticipated.”
Ferrucci, reflecting on the learning process with altered technical support, finished 16th in the standings by the season’s end, while his former teammate David Malukas ranked 11th. The season highlights both the strengths and transitional pains of the ongoing collaboration.
Team Penske’s Season and What Lies Ahead
While Team Penske endured a season filled with setbacks, the organization managed to recover somewhat as Will Power and Josef Newgarden each claimed race victories late in the campaign. Amid these developments, Roger Penske remains focused on sustained growth through synergy with AJ Foyt Racing, maintaining technical cooperation and shared sponsor efforts.
The Team Penske AJ Foyt alliance appears poised to remain a key fixture in the IndyCar landscape for the foreseeable future, with both teams betting on combined talent development and technical exchanges. As Caio Collet enters the fold and the alliance renews its course, fans and stakeholders will be watching closely to see how this partnership shapes results in the seasons to come.
