ECR Pulls Covers from 2025 Liveries for Rossi, Rasmussen

Ed Carpenter Racing announced Feb. 17 primary partners for part of the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.

With paint schemes unveiled Feb. 16 on social media, Alexander Rossi will begin the season in the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet while Christian Rasmussen competes in the No. 21 Splenda Chevrolet. The brands will be featured prominently throughout the year, including holding the primary location for the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding on Sunday, March 2 (noon ET, FOX, FOX Deportes, INDYCAR Radio Network).

The addition of Java House and Splenda-branded NTT INDYCAR SERIES cars is the latest in a string of developments for the Indianapolis-based race team. In late September 2024, ECR’s ownership group expanded to include a fourth Indiana businessman, Ted Gelov, owner of Heartland Food Products Group. The following day, 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner Rossi joined ECR as driver of the No. 20 Chevrolet while 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone champion Christian Rasmussen was elevated to full-time driver of the No. 21 Chevrolet.

In mid-January 2025, ECR unveiled an updated brand identity, including a new logo and brand colors. The No. 20 Java House Chevrolet and the No. 21 Splenda Chevrolet will carry those colors, dubbed Indiana Gold and Carpenter Blue by the team.

“Pairing the iconic Splenda brand with ECR is a perfect fit for the team’s upward trajectory,” Gelov said. “In addition to having a Java House car, it is also a great to be able share Java House products at different tracks throughout the season. We can’t wait to see fans wearing our Indiana Gold and Carpenter Blue up in the grandstands!”

Splenda, the most recognizable low-calorie sweetener brand in the world, will be featured on Rasmussen’s No. 21 Chevrolet. Since Splenda’s launch in 1991, more than 100 billion yellow packets have been sold. Splenda’s packaging facility and ECR’s race shop are both on Georgetown Road in Indianapolis, with locations less than 1 mile apart.

In addition to its versatile Peel n Pour single-serve beverages, Java House owns and operates cafes in the Indianapolis and Lafayette, Indiana, markets. Java House made its on-track debut on Rossi’s No. 20 Chevrolet during a test in October 2024 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The cold brew coffee brand will serve as Rossi’s primary sponsor at select races throughout the 2025 season, beginning at St. Petersburg.

The full-season lineup of Rossi and Rasmussen will expand to three cars for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 25, when ECR co-owner Ed Carpenter will join in the team’s third entry.

“It is extremely exciting to have Java House and Splenda join our lineup,” Carpenter said. “To have not only one, but two, consumer brands is a great opportunity for ECR and INDYCAR.

“In the few short months since Ted has joined ECR, the strides the team has made have been remarkable. It has been a full-team effort, and I am proud of everyone for the work they have put in. We are more than ready to see everything come to fruition when the Java House and Splenda cars roll out in St. Pete.”