Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) confirmed OpenAI has expanded its partnership and will now be a primary sponsor for two rounds during the 2026 season in the IndyCar Series.
OpenAI, the leading AI research and deployment company, will be the primary sponsor on reigning and four-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou’s #10 Honda for this weekend’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, followed by the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. in August. Long Beach stands as a home race for the California-based company, and it’s a track Palou has scored three podiums and five top fives in as many starts on the iconic street circuit. OpenAI was also featured on Palou’s entry at last year’s round at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
For the last two seasons, the partnership between CGR has grown into a hands-on technical collaboration on and off the track. OpenAI researchers and engineers have worked alongside the team at races, combining cutting edge AI with CGR racing expertise to help the team achieve at the highest level. CGR uses OpenAI tools to analyze race data, streamline communication, and accelerate decision-making in high-pressure environments, helping the team focus even more on achieving on-track success.
“Racing has always been about finding an edge,” said CGR team owner Chip Ganassi. “What we’ve built with OpenAI goes beyond a logo on the car and helps us find that edge. It’s a robust technical collaboration that’s helping us think differently about how we go racing and helps us win.
“We’re excited to have OpenAI on board the #10 at Long Beach and in Washington, D.C., two big stages for our sport.”
Additionally, OpenAI has hired Rob Wills, director of Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive, to lead a documentary project debuting this Summer about CGR and the ways it finds an edge in North America’s premier open-wheel championship with the help of OpenAI tools.
“We are so proud of what we’re building with Chip Ganassi Racing, a hands-on collaboration where AI becomes part of the team, helping make sense of complex data, strengthening communication, and supporting faster decisions in the moments that matter most,” said Sarah Russell, Head of Integrated Marketing, OpenAI.
“Together, we are exploring how AI can empower the people and processes that power performance on track—ultimately opening up new possibilities for how teams perform everywhere.”
