Sunoco will become the primary sponsor on the No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda driven by Kyffin Simpson beginning in 2026. (Photo courtesy of Chip Ganassi Racing)

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio

Dallas-based Sunoco’s trademark three-color logo will return to the NTT IndyCar Series in 2026 as full-time primary partner on the No. 8 Honda driven by Kyffin Simpson. The multi-year agreement with Chip Ganassi Racing marks Sunoco’s first full-season of primary partnership in INDYCAR since 1973.

Sunoco _ largest independent fuel distributor in the Americas _ previously served as the primary fuel supplier of INDYCAR from 2010-2018 and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 2015-2018. The company’s return to the “Fastest Racing on Earth” marks a committed re-entry into domestic open-wheel racing in partnership with one of motorsport’s winningest teams.

“Sunoco has long been synonymous with performance and innovation, values that mirror the DNA of our team,” owner Chip Ganassi said in a news release. “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.”

As noted, the deal returns Sunoco to INDYCAR via a full-season team primary partnership for the first time in 53 years. Sunoco’s relationship with INDYCAR dates to 1968 in Riverside, Calif., where Mark Donohue drove the No. 12 Sunoco Eagle.

Donohue went on to win the Indianapolis 500 on May 27, 1972 in the No. 66 Sunoco McLaren/Offy fielded by Roger Penske Enterprises. Donohue, who qualified third, took the lead from Jerry Grant’s No. 48 Mystery Eagle/Offy on Lap 188 of the scheduled 200 around the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The final 13 laps were the only circuits Donohue led during the 56^th edition of the Memorial Weekend classic.

Ironically, Donohue’s teammate _ veteran Gary Bettenhausen _ led three times for a race-high 138 laps in the No. 7 Sunoco McLaren/Offy. However, Bettenhausen’s bid ended after 182 laps via an ignition issue en route to finishing 14^th in the traditional 33-car field.

Sunoco’s Yale Blue, Vivid Yellow and Alizarin Crimson color scheme also has been carried at IMS by open-wheel veterans Tony Kanaan of Brazil and Townsend Bell as well as NASCAR legend Bobby Allison.

Simpson completed his second full INDYCAR season before his 21st birthday in 2025 _ more starts than Chip Ganassi Racing champions Scott Dixon of New Zealand, Alex Palou of Spain, Jimmy Vasser or Alex Zanardi of Italy had logged by their 21st birthdays. Dixon and Palou _ the four-time/reigning series champion _ have combined for 10 driver’s championships. Dixon won the Indy 500 in 2008, while Palou scored his first oval-track victory in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on May 25, 2025, in the race’s 109th edition.

The 2025 season marked a significant career step for Simpson. A native of the Cayman Islands, Simpson scored his first career podium, three top-five finishes, six top-10s and first trip into the Firestone Fast Six during qualifying. Simpson finished 17^th among 34 drivers scoring points during the 2025 campaign.

“Starting my third year in INDYCAR with Sunoco joining the No. 8 Honda is an incredible boost,” Simpson said. “We’ve made big strides on the track, and this partnership will only help us get better. I’m confident we can take another step forward and have even more success in 2026 and beyond.”

Sunoco joins Chip Ganassi Racing after one of the most successful seasons for a team in INDYCAR history. Dixon, Palou and Simpson combined for nine wins, six poles and 17 podiums _ with Palou winning eight of 17 races in the No. 10 DHL Honda. Since its founding in 1990, CGR has won 17 INDYCAR championships, tied for most all-time, and over 145 INDYCAR races. Sunoco will have a presence across all Chip Ganassi Racing INDYCAR entries during all 17 races.

As the largest manufacturer of race fuels, Sunoco will use the partnership to showcase Sunoco 94 Octane _ highest-octane fuel on the market. As a Top Tier™ fuel, it can help engines run cleaner, longer and more efficiently. Beyond INDYCAR, Sunoco remains a dominant force in motorsports, supplying high-performance fuel to more than 500 tracks and over 50 racing series nationwide.

Sunoco LP is a leading energy infrastructure and fuel distribution master limited partnership operating across 32 countries and territories in North America, the Greater Caribbean and Europe. Sunoco’s mid-stream operations include an extensive network of approximately 14,000 miles of pipeline and over 160 terminals. This critical infrastructure complements Sunoco’s fuel distribution operations, which distribute over 15 billion gallons annually to approximately 11,000 Sunoco and partner-branded retail locations, as well as independent dealers and commercial customers. Sunoco’s general partner is owned by Energy Transfer LP.

Brazilian-American Nicholas Monteiro will drive A.J. Foyt Racing’s second entry in the 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone championship. Monteiro will compete in his first full INDY NXT season in Waller, Texas-based Foyt Racing’s return to INDYCAR’s developmental series in partnership with HMD Motorsports.

Monteiro made his INDY NXT by Firestone debut in the 2025 Grand Prix of Portland, Ore., with HMD Motorsports. The 20-year-old has a solid foundation of open-wheel experience, having competed in USF Pro 2000 throughout 2023, 2024 and 2025, as well as previous stints in the F4 Brazilian and Italian F4 Championships.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to compete in INDY NXT with such an iconic team as A.J. Foyt Racing,” said Monteiro, who will drive the No. 4 car in the 17-race series. “Driving the INDY NXT car last season in Portland was an incredible experience and gave me a good understanding of what to expect. Joining a team with so much motorsports history and passion means a lot to me, and I’m ready to make the most of this chance. I can’t wait to get started and continue building toward my goals.”

While competing with HMD Motorsports, Monteiro showcased an aggressive on-track approach that caught the attention of Foyt Racing’s leadership. Monteiro will team with 19-year-old American-Italian Alessandro De Tullio, as both drivers graduate from USF Pro 2000.

“Nicholas will be a great addition to our team,” Foyt Racing Team President Larry Foyt said. “He’s shown impressive speed and maturity for his age, and his approach both on and off the track stood out to us. We’re looking forward to helping him continue to develop and seeing what we can accomplish together this season. He and Alessandro already work well together, putting us in a strong position for success.”

Monteiro will continue participating in all official series tests with Foyt Racing ahead of the 2026 season, having recently completed sessions at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. Monteiro’s official race debut with the team will be in the season-opener on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., from Feb. 27–March 1, 2026.

The Graham and Courtney Rahal Foundation is offering INDYCAR fans the opportunity of “Riding With Rahal” _ and making a difference in the lives of America’s veterans _ during the 110^th edition of the Indianapolis 500 on May 24, 2026.

With a donation of $100 or more, each fan’s name _ or the name of a person of their choosing _ will be featured on Graham Rahal’s No. 15 United Rentals Honda fielded by Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. The Foundation is working with Turns for Troops and RLLR in this patriotic initiative centered around “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

Donations will support a variety of veterans’ initiatives via the Turns For Troops program. Since 2016, United Rentals has committed to donating $50 per lap-completed by Rahal in NTT IndyCar Series competition through Turns For Troops. To-date, the effort has raised nearly $1-million from laps-completed. Almost $2.5-million has been donated in total, with the addition of money raised from the annual GCRF Drivers Tournament and Vino For Vets fund-raisers.

The “Riding With Rahal” campaign will run through Feb. 24, 2026, with names capped at 1,200.

2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES SCHEDULE

Sunday, March 1 _ Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.

Saturday, March 7 _ Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Ariz.

Sunday, March 15 _ Streets of Arlington, Texas

Sunday, March 29 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala.

Sunday, April 19 _ Streets of Long Beach, Calif.

Saturday, May 9 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course

Sunday, May 24 _ 110^th Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oval

Sunday, May 31 _ Streets of Detroit

Sunday, June 7 _ World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill.

Sunday, June 21 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.

Sunday, July 5 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio

Sunday, July 19 _ Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn.

Sunday, Aug. 9 _ Portland (Ore.) International Raceway

Sunday, Aug. 16 _ Streets of Markham, Canada

Saturday, Aug. 29 _ The Milwaukee Mile Race 1, West Allis, Wis.

Sunday, Aug. 30 _ The Milwaukee Mile Race 2, West Allis, Wis.

Sunday, Sept. 6 _ WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif.

Note _ All races to be televised by FOX Sports

2026 INDYCAR NXT BY FIRESTONE SCHEDULE

Sunday, March 1 _ Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.

Sunday, March 15 _ Streets of Arlington, Texas

Saturday, March 28 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala., Race 1

Sunday, March 29 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala., Race 2

Friday, May 8 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course Race 1

Saturday, May 9 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course Race 2

Sunday, May 31 _ Streets of Detroit

Sunday, June 7 _ World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill.

Saturday, June 20 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis., Race 1

Sunday, June 21 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis., Race 2

Saturday, July 4 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio, Race 1

Sunday, July 5 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio, Race 2

Sunday, July 19 _ Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn.

Sunday, Aug. 9 _ Portland (Ore.) International Raceway

Sunday, Aug. 30 _ The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wis.

Saturday, Sept. 5 _ Weather Tech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif., Race 1

Sunday, Sept. 6 _ Weather Tech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif., Race 2