IndyCar: OpenAI to sponsor Palou at Long Beach and Wash DC

OpenAI, the leading AI research and deployment company, has expanded its partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) for 2026 to include two races as the primary partner for four-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou and the No. 10 Honda team. The two-race deal will commence at this weekend’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, followed by August’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C.

The partnership between OpenAI and CGR has grown throughout the last two seasons 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.

Notes of Interest:

Action! OpenAI has hired Rob Wills, director of Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive, to lead a documentary project debuting this Summer about Chip Ganassi Racing and the ways it finds an edge in INDYCAR with the help of OpenAI tools.
California Dreaming: In Long Beach, OpenAI will join Palou as he chases his first victory in the Los Angeles area. In five starts at the California street course, Palou has never finished outside the top 5, scoring three podiums. It is a home-state race for the California-based company.
One Team, One Goal: This announcement builds on a multifaceted partnership between Chip Ganassi Racing and OpenAI that began in 2025. Last season was one of the most historic in team history, with nine race wins and 17 podiums between INDYCAR drivers Palou, Scott Dixon, driver of the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda, and Kyffin Simpson, driver of the No. 8 Sunoco Honda. Palou won last year’s INDYCAR championship, his third consecutive title, and the 2025 Indianapolis 500. In addition, the No. 9 and No. 10 teams finished 1-2 in the Firestone Pit Stop Performance Championship, making them the fastest in pit road through operational excellence and efficiencies powered by OpenAI tools. Palou kicked off 2026 with a victory at the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, followed by a win at Barber Motorsports Park.

Quoteboard:

Sarah Russell, Head of Integrated Marketing, OpenAI: 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. 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.”

Chip Ganassi, Owner, Chip Ganassi Racing: “Racing has always been about finding an edge. 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 No. 10 at Long Beach and in Washington, D.C., two big stages for our sport.”