Here is a wild mix of paddock business and pure racing grit. Team Penske and Hitachi, Ltd. announced on October 20 an extension to their NTT IndyCar SERIES sponsorship agreement. Hitachi will maintain its branding on the front wings of Team Penske’s No. 2, No. 3 and No. 12 Chevrolet-powered entries for the 2027 NTT IndyCar SERIES season. This backing, which began in 2012, is a true cornerstone of their multifaceted partnership.
Beyond the trackside decals, Hitachi has served as an important technology partner to Penske since 2018, spanning application development, digital engineering, cybersecurity, data and AI, and managed services. Charlie Takeuchi, president and CEO of Hitachi Americas, noted the pride in the strong partnership built with Penske Group over the past 14 years. The two entities have even co-created innovative technologies to transform Penske's fleet maintenance operations, driving more than $18 million in annualized savings through faster diagnostics and predictive maintenance, and helping prevent over 90,000 breakdowns.
Team Penske president, IndyCar, Jonathan Diuguid pointed out that Hitachi is a trusted global brand and a critical partner across the organization, adding that the relationship continues to pay dividends on and off the track as they mark Team Penske’s 60th anniversary.
Meanwhile, Christian Rasmussen is making a massive pivot away from asphalt. The driver will trade his No. 21 ECR Chevrolet for a dirt midget over Thanksgiving weekend, making his debut in the 85th Annual ARP Turkey Night Grand Prix on Saturday, November 28 at Ventura Raceway in Southern California.
Rasmussen will drive a Spike chassis fielded by car owner Johnny Cofer, the father of Rasmussen’s girlfriend, former USAC Midget driver Maria Cofer. The entry also has support from the Agajanian family and will feature a tribute to the iconic 1952 Agajanian Special, which Troy Ruttman drove to victory in the Indianapolis 500. The 98-lap Turkey Night Grand Prix serves as the season finale of the USAC National Midget Championship. A holiday racing tradition dating to 1934, the event is considered the third-longest-running race in the United States, behind the Indianapolis 500 and the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
Looking back to his primary discipline, Rasmussen returns to ECR for the 2027 NTT IndyCar SERIES season, marking his third full-time campaign with the team after also competing part time for ECR in 2024. He earned his first career IndyCar SERIES victory August 24, 2025, at the Milwaukee Mile. The Dane also boasts serious championship credentials throughout the junior categories, winning the USF2000 title in 2020, Indy Pro 2000 in 2021 and INDY NXT by Firestone in 2023, making him the second driver to win championships at every level of the ladder leading to the NTT IndyCar SERIES.
