Here is a wild piece of sponsorship news for open-wheel fans: Sunoco is making a proper return to the NTT IndyCar SERIES in 2026. The Dallas-based giant, known as the largest independent fuel distributor in the Americas, has locked in a multi-year agreement as a full-time primary partner with Chip Ganassi Racing on the No. 8 Honda driven by Kyffin Simpson. This marks Sunoco’s very first full-season primary partnership in IndyCar since 1973.
Now, Sunoco is no stranger to the sport. The brand previously served as the primary fuel supplier of IndyCar from 2010 to 2018 and of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 2015 to 2018. Their deep history in the series actually dates all the way back to 1968 in Riverside, California, when Mark Donohue wrestled the No. 12 Sunoco Eagle. Donohue and Sunoco even took home their first Indianapolis 500 victory four years later, sharing a legendary roster that over the years has included Gary Bettenhausen, Tony Kanaan, NASCAR legend Bobby Allison, and current IndyCar on FOX personality Townsend Bell.
Sunoco has long been synonymous with performance and innovation, values that mirror the DNA of our team,
As for the machine and driver tasked with carrying these iconic colors, young Kyffin Simpson steps into a massive spotlight. Simpson has already completed two full IndyCar seasons before his 21st birthday, giving him more starts by that age than Chip Ganassi Racing champions Scott Dixon, Alex Palou, Jimmy Vasser, or Alex Zanardi. The Caymanian driver took a serious step forward through the 2025 season by securing his first career podium, three top-five finishes, six top-10s, and his maiden voyage into the Firestone Fast Six qualifying round.
Sunoco, which operates as the largest manufacturer of race fuels, plans to use this high-profile platform to showcase Sunoco 94 Octane, the highest-octane fuel currently on the market. As a Top Tier fuel, it is built to help engines run cleaner, longer, and with greater efficiency. Outside of this new IndyCar venture, the company keeps its grip firmly on American motorsports by supplying high-performance fuel to over 500 tracks and more than 50 racing series nationwide.
This partnership lands at Chip Ganassi Racing on the heels of one of the most utterly dominant campaigns for a team in the history of the sport. Combing forces with Dixon, Palou, and Simpson, the squad racked up nine wins, six poles, and 17 podiums while sweeping the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar championship. Since opening its doors in 1990, CGR has captured 17 IndyCar championships—tying the all-time record—alongside more than 145 race victories. Sunoco branding will feature across all Chip Ganassi Racing IndyCar entries for all 17 races.
“Sunoco has long been synonymous with performance and innovation, values that mirror the DNA of our team,” team owner Chip Ganassi said. “To join forces with such an iconic brand and one with a storied legacy in IndyCar is truly special. This partnership reflects our shared drive to keep pushing boundaries, and we look forward to what we’ll accomplish together on and off the track.”
