Team Penske and Hitachi, Ltd. announced Oct. 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.
The sponsorship, which began in 2012, is a cornerstone of Hitachi and Team Penske’s multifaceted partnership. Hitachi continues to serve as an important technology partner to Penske, spanning application development, digital engineering, cybersecurity, data and AI, and managed services since 2018.
“We are proud of the strong partnership we have built with Penske Group over the past 14 years,” said Charlie Takeuchi, president and CEO of Hitachi Americas. “From the excitement of our partnership with Team Penske on the track to the work we do alongside Penske’s businesses using AI and digital engineering, we look forward to continuing our partnership and building what’s next together.”
Hitachi and Penske have also 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.
“Hitachi is a trusted global brand and a critical partner across the Penske organization,” said Jonathan Diuguid, Team Penske president, INDYCAR. “Our relationship continues to pay dividends on and off the track, and we’re glad to continue that momentum as we mark Team Penske’s 60th anniversary.”
Rasmussen Set for Turkey Night Midget Debut
Christian Rasmussen 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, Nov. 28 at Ventura Raceway in Southern California.
Rasmussen (photo, above) 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.
Rasmussen returns to ECR for the 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, 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 Aug. 24, 2025, at the Milwaukee Mile.
The Dane also has championship credentials throughout the junior categories, winning the USF2000 title in 2020, Indy Pro 2000 in 2021 and INDY NXT by Firestone in 2023. He became the second driver to win championships at every level of the ladder leading to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
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