INDIANAPOLIS — Purdue University is teaming up with Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500, writing the next chapter of Purdue’s long history at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS).
The partnership with ECR, which is based in Indianapolis and co-owned by businessman, innovator, and Purdue alumnus Ted Gelov (BS business ’88), will involve sponsorship of all three of the team’s Chevrolet-powered NTT INDYCAR SERIES cars for this Sunday’s race. The collaboration will extend past the Indianapolis 500, as the two partners will actively work together in the racing capital of the world, where Purdue is continuing to expand its footprint.
“The impetus for Purdue’s expansion in Indianapolis is to connect students with industry leaders and engage with the local community, while marbling into the capital city,” said Dan Hasler, Purdue’s chief operating officer for Indianapolis. “This partnership with ECR, known for its motorsports excellence and strong performance in the Indianapolis 500, accomplishes those goals for our increasing Boilermaker presence here.”
The trio of ECR cars that Purdue will sponsor in this year’s Indianapolis 500 includes the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet driven by Alexander Rossi, who won the historic 100th running as a rookie in 2016; the No. 21 Splenda Chevrolet of Christian Rasmussen, an up-and-coming Danish driver; and the No. 33 Splenda Stevia Chevrolet of three-time Indianapolis 500 pole winner Ed Carpenter, a longtime fan favorite at the prestigious Brickyard.
“As a proud Purdue graduate, I find it incredibly rewarding to bring together two institutions that represent excellence, innovation, and a deep connection to Indiana,” said Gelov. “This partnership is more than just race day — it’s about creating opportunities for the next generation of Boilermakers in the heart of motorsports.”
The 2025 Indianapolis 500 will be ECR’s 14th, as the hometown team continues to pursue victory in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Since joining the NTT INDYCAR SERIES field in 2012, ECR has double-digit top 10 finishes in the 500-mile race, including a runner-up finish by Carpenter in 2018. Carpenter’s three pole positions are tied for the sixth most in race history, a mark that puts him alongside legends like Mario Andretti, Johnny Rutherford, Tom Sneva, and Arie Luyendyk. When he takes the green flag for his 22nd Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, Carpenter will move up to eighth on the list of most starts by all drivers to ever compete in the race — a number that will climb to over 800. Rossi’s impressive consistency at IMS includes finishes of seventh or better in seven of his nine starts, including six top-five finishes and a victory in 2016. Rasmussen holds the distinction of the highest-finishing rookie in the 2024 Indianapolis 500 and will make his second start this year.
From the “All-American” Marching Band, which has been the official band of the Indianapolis 500 since 1919, to the large presence of Purdue engineers in the IndyCar garages, Purdue’s influence on the celebrated race dates back over a century. That influence will continue as Purdue Motorsports officially moves into Dallara’s U.S. headquarters on Main Street in Speedway later this month, just steps away from IMS. The Dallara IndyCar Factory, the exclusive chassis manufacturer for the series, will house Purdue’s motorsports engineering program in Indianapolis, training the next wave of Boilermakers for the garages at IMS and beyond.
