After two years of sporadic appearances and fill-in roles, Santino Ferrucci will return to the paddock of the NTT IndyCar Series full-time in 2023, joining forces with AJ Foyt Racing to pilot the No. 14 Chevrolet, which will be fielded from the team’s Waller, Texas headquarters.
The Woodbury, Connecticut-native replaces Kyle Kirkwood in the organization’s flagship entry, as Kirkwood moves to Andretti Autosport for the 2023 season. Ferrucci will serve as a teammate to IndyCar debutant Benjamin Pedersen, whose entry will be fielded out of the team’s Indianapolis shop.
“It’s incredibly exciting to be back in the INDYCAR Series full-time,” said Ferrucci. “Being a part-time driver over the last two years has been hard for me, personally. I’m a racecar driver and I want to compete. Working with different teams has been exciting, and I’m proud that no matter which car I’ve raced, I’ve always shown speed and consistency. I couldn’t be more excited to join AJ Foyt Racing in the 14 Chevy. I can’t wait to make the best of it.”
Ferrucci, who spent his time away from the full-season grind of IndyCar competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, has more recently become known for his status as “super sub” for teams like Rahal Letterman Lannigan Racing, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, and Juncos Hollinger Racing, and even Team Penske.
“I am thrilled to welcome Santino [Ferrucci] to the team,” said Larry Foyt. “He’s shown a knack for getting towards the front of the field, and I think he is a racer who moves forward on race day. A.J. sees the fire in him and has enjoyed their meetings together. I think Santino’s experience will help his rookie teammate as well, so he is a great addition to our roster.”
The 24-year-old’s resume in the NTT IndyCar Series includes a pair of full-time campaigns for Dale Coyne Racing, as well as a part-time tenure for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. In 43 starts, Ferrucci has a career-best of fourth place.
“It’s going to be a very unique opportunity to work with both A.J. and Larry closely to build a new program,” he said. “To race for a legend like A.J. Foyt — it’s a dream come true. I like to think of myself as an “old school” driver who likes loose race cars and gets behind the wheel of anything with four wheels and an engine. So driving for a guy like A.J., knowing that he drove everything throughout his career, it’s going to be a chance of a lifetime for me.”
As Ferrucci joins AJ Foyt Racing for 2023, he’ll be looking to improve upon a career-high points position of 13th, which he achieved in both of his full-time seasons in the NTT IndyCar Series.
