Written by Dan Jones
Alexander Rossi will line-up for Ed Carpenter Racing in 2025, after making the move from Arrow McLaren as the 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner will line-up alongside Christian Rasmussen, who enters his second season with the Indianapolis-based outfit.
Rossi left Arrow McLaren after failing to agree terms, as the papaya outfit signed Rahal Letterman Lanigan's Christian Lundgaard to replace him. Two seasons at Arrow McLaren have since brought Rossi two podiums, finishing ninth and tenth in the standings respectively, but mutually parted ways with the team at the conclusion of 2024. Rossi will race the No.20 entry for the team.
The team's confirmation of Rossi comes alongside the further confirmation that Christian Rasmussen will remain at the team into 2025. The Dane, who was initially on a part-time program, had a best finish of ninth at Mid-Ohio, and helped secure the crucial Leader's Circle spot for the No.20 car, after he was called up to replace Carpenter in the final rounds at the Milwaukee Mile and Nashville Superspeedway. Rasmussen will switch to the No.21 for 2025.
Carpenter stated: “It is an exciting day to not only welcome Alex to the team, but to extend our relationship with Christian, we are very excited about our lineup, and other partnership announcements that will be forthcoming. As excited as I am about these additions, I also want to thank Rinus (VeeKay) for his five years with the team. It is always hard to say goodbye to a teammate and a friend, but I am confident that Rinus’ career will continue to blossom. As we look ahead to 2025 and beyond, I am fully focused on getting ECR back to new heights, winning races and contending for championships.”
Rossi added: “I’m honored that Ed (Carpenter) and the entire ECR ownership group recognize the value I can bring to the team, their commitment to excellence, along with the power of Chevrolet and the ambitious plans they have for the future made this opportunity impossible to pass up. I’m eager to get started and contribute to the team’s continued success.”
And Rasmussen continued: “I’m incredibly excited to earn a full-time role with Ed Carpenter Racing,” said Rasmussen. “My rookie year in INDYCAR was full of firsts, and I can’t wait to bring everything I’ve learned into my second season. I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity and looking forward to team up with Alexander (Rossi) to push the team forward and fight towards the front of the grid more consistently.”
Carpenter will drop down to an Indianapolis 500-only entry in 2025, as he steps away from doing an oval-only program, as he has done every year since 2014. He is the second Indianapolis 500-only confirmed driver to date, after Kyle Larson's announcement that he will re-attempt the double.
The team have certainly struggled with sponsorship throughout the course of the 2024 season. The No.21 of Rinus VeeKay often had his sidepods bare, with the $1 Million boost from No.20 entry driven by a combination of Carpenter and Rasmussen being significant for the team.
However, the team announced a new partnership with Indiana businessman, Ted Gelov, who becomes a co-owner of the team, which is believed to have given a huge boost of funding into the team, which has helped secure the funds to help the team sign Rossi.
Gelov said the following: “We are committed to the Indiana community and are extremely excited to continue that by joining Ed Carpenter Racing. I am ready to do my part to help Ed (Carpenter) and ECR in any way we can to get on the podium and win races!”
“It’s fantastic to find a partner that so closely aligns with our values and shared vision for the future of Ed Carpenter Racing,” Carpenter added. “We also plan on having a Java House or Splenda car on track next season, which would be special for us to work with one of our own brands. There is more to come!”
The team's highest points over the last few seasons have come with particularly strong performances at the Indianapolis 500, with Rinus VeeKay often a contender, and Christian Rasmussen impressing in his rookie appearance too in 2024. Rossi is an Indianapolis 500 winner, on debut in 2016, and has finished in the top five in the race in the last three seasons, to add to a fourth in 2018 and second in 2019.
The team will therefore wave goodbye to Rinus VeeKay after five seasons, which included winning the Rookie of the Year crown in 2020, and winning on the Indianapolis Road Course in 2021, the team's most recent victory. Throughout VeeKay's tenure with the team, he claimed a further three podiums, however, none of those have come since 2022.
VeeKay's memorable moments include qualifying day at this year's Indianapolis 500. In his five seasons with the team VeeKay never finished higher than 12th in the standings, but never lower than 14th. VeeKay's options remain unclear, but expect Juncos Hollinger Racing or Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing to be his most likely destinations.
It's an important confirmation in the turbulent driver market, with Rossi the biggest free agent left on the market, as it secures the team's line-up for 2025. Question marks remain at Dale Coyne Racing, Juncos Hollinger Racing, PREMA and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing over their line-ups for 2025.
It will be a new era for Ed Carpenter Racing, with a 100% driver change with the arrival of IndyCar vice-champion and eight-time winner, Alexander Rossi, to bring a crucial experienced head to the team, to try and recover the rocky ship of the last few years. He will be joined by Christian Rasmussen, who will look to build on what had been an exciting rookie season.
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