AJ Foyt Racing President Larry Foyt Surprised the Racing Community by Announcing a New Step in the Full-Season Technical Partnership with Team Penske for the 2026 IndyCar Season, While Also Spreading the Message of Humanity from the Homes for Our Troops Program

In a move that has sent ripples through the motorsport world, Larry Foyt, president of AJ Foyt Racing, unveiled two significant developments on Veterans Day, November 11, 2025, during a virtual press conference tied to a new sponsorship announcement. The first was a reaffirmation and expansion of the team’s technical alliance with powerhouse Team Penske, now confirmed to extend fully into the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season. The second was an emotional extension of the team’s longstanding charitable initiative with Homes for Our Troops, transforming it from an Indianapolis 500 highlight into a season-long crusade to support wounded post-9/11 veterans.

These announcements, delivered with characteristic humility and passion, underscore AJ Foyt Racing’s dual commitment to on-track excellence and off-track compassion, catching even seasoned observers off guard with their timing and depth.

The technical partnership with Team Penske, initially forged in the summer of 2023, has been a game-changer for the Texas-based outfit. What began as a strategic collaboration—sharing chassis setup data, damper technology, and engineering expertise—has evolved into a symbiotic relationship benefiting both storied teams. For AJ Foyt Racing, long plagued by inconsistent results despite the legacy of founder A.J. Foyt’s four Indianapolis 500 triumphs, the alliance injected vital resources. Penske’s precision engineering helped elevate the team’s performance, evident in Santino Ferrucci’s breakout 2025 campaign, where the No.

14 driver notched seven top-10 finishes and a career-best 10th in the championship standings. Ferrucci’s resurgence, bolstered by Penske-affiliated race engineer James Schnabel, marked the team’s first top-10 driver finish since 2002.

From Penske’s perspective, the partnership serves as a talent incubator. The three-time IndyCar champions have leveraged AJ Foyt Racing to groom young engineers and mechanics, providing real-world IndyCar experience without immediate pressure on their flagship lineup. This has been particularly crucial amid Penske’s own turbulent 2025 season, marred by early scandals and inconsistent results from stars like Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin. Yet, the alliance yielded dividends at the Brickyard, where shared insights from Foyt’s technical director Michael Cannon contributed to Penske’s front-row sweep in Indy 500 qualifying—a feat not seen since 1988.

Larry Foyt’s confirmation that the partnership will deepen in 2026 came in response to a reporter’s query, framed against recent driver lineup shifts. With David Malukas’ abrupt departure from the No. 14 seat—replaced by promising Indy NXT runner-up Caio Collet—the alliance’s continuity was no sure bet. “Yeah, I think the Penske things are good,” Foyt said matter-of-factly. “I think I see that continuing.

So far, no, everything looks really good for next year to pick up right where we left off.” This “new step,” as insiders describe it, reportedly includes enhanced data-sharing protocols and joint testing sessions ahead of IndyCar’s hybrid engine rollout. It positions both teams to challenge Chip Ganassi Racing’s dominance, with Ferrucci and Collet forming a potent duo under the Chevrolet banner.

The surprise element wasn’t just the partnership’s longevity but its dovetailing with a humanitarian push that stole the spotlight. On the same call, Foyt detailed the expansion of AJ Foyt Racing’s Homes for Our Troops (HFOT) program, a partnership that has raised millions since 2022. What started as an Indy 500-centric effort—featuring a patriotic red, white, and blue livery on Ferrucci’s car—will now span the entire 2026 calendar.

Backed by new title sponsors Hendricks Commercial Properties and Geronimo Hospitality Group (affiliates of longtime partner ABC Supply), the initiative aims to fund specially adapted homes for severely injured veterans, including those with limb amputations, paralysis, or traumatic brain injuries.

HFOT, a 21-year-old nonprofit, has built over 350 custom residences nationwide, restoring independence to families forever altered by service. The Foyt team’s involvement began humbly but grew resonant, especially after the 2025 Indy 500 campaign matched $1 million in donations to surpass a $4 million goal. “What an amazing program,” Larry Foyt enthused, his voice cracking slightly. “We couldn’t be prouder to continue our long relationship with the Hendricks family as well as continuing the inspiring experience of working with Homes For Our Troops.

I can’t say enough about how much Diane Hendricks and her daughter Konya have supported our team and IndyCar over the years.” He highlighted HFOT’s ongoing support—financial literacy workshops, home maintenance aid—ensuring veterans aren’t abandoned post-move-in.

Ferrucci’s No. 14 Chevrolet will don the stars-and-stripes scheme for all 17 races, turning every lap into a tribute as America nears its 250th anniversary in 2026. “Every race. Every lap. Every mile,” Foyt emphasized, echoing the team’s social media blast. Rob Gerbitz, CEO of the new sponsors, called it a reflection of “the values of the Hendricks family,” while HFOT President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Tom Landwermeyer praised the visibility: “Spotlighting HFOT during a full season advances our mission of building homes and rebuilding lives.”

The announcements arrive at a pivotal juncture for AJ Foyt Racing. Fresh off consolidating operations under one Indianapolis roof—a move from Texas to Speedway that streamlines logistics—the team eyes sustained momentum. Collet’s signing, announced days earlier, adds youthful vigor to Ferrucci’s experience, while the Penske tie-in promises technical parity with the series’ elite. Yet, it’s the HFOT expansion that truly humanizes the effort, blending racing’s adrenaline with real-world impact. As Foyt put it, “Our troops are No. 1. It’s perfect.”

Reactions poured in swiftly. Team Penske President Tim Cindric lauded the alliance’s mutual growth, noting, “It helps each other.” Veterans’ advocates hailed the charity push, with one HFOT beneficiary tweeting, “From the track to the home front—thank you, Foyt family.” Even A.J. Foyt Sr., the 90-year-old icon, issued a rare statement: “Santino drove a hell of a season. Now, let’s win some races and build some homes.”

As the off-season unfolds, these developments signal AJ Foyt Racing’s renaissance: faster on ovals, stronger in the pits, and more purposeful beyond the checkered flag. In an era where IndyCar grapples with relevance amid hybrid innovations and expanding calendars, Larry Foyt’s vision reminds us that true victory laps include giving back. The 2026 grid just got a lot more meaningful—and the racing community, a lot more inspired.