Sunoco is making its return to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES as a full-time primary partner with Chip Ganassi Racing on the No. 8 Honda driven by Kyffin Simpson beginning in 2026. The multi-year agreement marks Sunoco’s first full-season primary partnership in INDYCAR since 1973.
Sunoco previously served as the primary fuel supplier of INDYCAR from 2010-18 and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 2015-18. The company’s new commitment to the “Fastest Racing on Earth” signals a powerful reentry into top-tier open-wheel racing and a notable partnership with one of motorsport’s winningest teams, company officials stated in a press release.
Sunoco Returning to American Open-Wheel Racing
With the deal, Sunoco returns to the INDYCAR SERIES with a full-season team primary partnership for the first time in 53 years. Sunoco’s relationship with INDYCAR goes back to 1968 in Riverside, California, when Mark Donohue drove the No. 12 Sunoco Eagle. Donohue and Sunoco won their first Indianapolis 500 four years later. Its INDYCAR roster also includes Gary Bettenhousen, Tony Kanaan, NASCAR legend Bobby Allison and current INDYCAR on FOX personality Townsend Bell.
Simpson’s Success Behind the Wheel
Simpson is one of the young talents in the sport, completing two full INDYCAR seasons before his 21st birthday, which is more starts than Chip Ganassi Racing champions Scott Dixon, Alex Palou, Jimmy Vasser or Alex Zanardi had by their 21st birthdays. The 2025 season marked a significant step forward for the Caymanian, scoring his first career podium, three Top 5 finishes, six Top 10s and his first trip to the Firestone Fast Six. He will look to take another leap forward, fighting for wins in 2026 and continue learning from his teammates who share a combined 10 INDYCAR championships and two Indianapolis 500 victories, noted the release.
Sunoco Is a Dominant Force in American Motorsports
The largest manufacturer of race fuels, Dallas-based Sunoco, will use the partnership to showcase Sunoco 94 Octane, the highest-octane fuel on the market. Beyond INDYCAR, Sunoco supplies high-performance fuel to more than 500 tracks and over 50 racing series nationwide, the company said.
A Championship Pairing
Sunoco joins Chip Ganassi Racing after one of the most successful seasons for a team in INDYCAR history. Combining for nine wins, six poles and 17 podiums with Dixon, Palou and Simpson, the team won both the Indianapolis 500 and the INDYCAR championship. 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 for all 17 races.
“Sunoco has long been synonymous with performance and innovation, values that mirror the DNA of our team,” said Ganassi. “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.”
“Starting my third year in INDYCAR with Sunoco joining the No. 8 Honda is an incredible boost,” added Simpson. “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.”