AVONDALE, Ariz. - Just because not all of the 21 cars testing this weekend for the Verizon IndyCar Series’ Prix View test at Phoenix International Raceway are in finalized liveries doesn’t mean they don’t have most or all of their commercial considerations finalized.
Here’s what we’ve gathered so far about the sponsor lineups, by team:
TEAM PENSKE
- Simon Pagenaud’s No. 1 Chevrolet will have Menards for 10 races, with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) in its 2017 guise and PPG and DeVilbiss to round out the rotation. Pagenaud’s No. 1 car has PPG colors this weekend.
- Josef Newgarden’s No. 2 Chevrolet will continue in Verizon colors at St. Petersburg, with Verizon (perhaps via its hum by Verizon brand), PPG, DeVilbiss and possibly Hawk Performance on board.
- Helio Castroneves’ No. 3 Chevrolet continues with Hitachi, Rev Group and Shell, this year with Shell rather than Pennzoil branding set to feature.
- Will Power’s No. 12 Chevrolet is in Verizon colors all year.
- It’s not yet fully set which sponsors have which races, but there’s not expected to be upheaval within the Penske partner portfolio.
CHIP GANASSI RACING TEAMS
- The revealing of the sponsor or sponsors set to adorn Scott Dixon’s No. 9 Honda remains the biggest question mark of the rest of the offseason. But expect Dixon’s all-white, sponsorless No. 9 car you see this test to be a relic of just this test.
- Tony Kanaan’s No. 10 NTT Data Honda also has additional support, as previously announced, from 7-Eleven - although largely in an associate role.
- Full season liveries for Max Chilton (Gallagher) and Charlie Kimball (Tresiba) continue, now on the Hondas.
ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT
- DHL (Ryan Hunter-Reay), hhgregg (Marco Andretti) and Panasonic (Takuma Sato) adorn the respective Nos. 28, 27 and 26 Hondas, with Sato’s red, white and blue colors coming over from A.J. Foyt Enterprises.
- The Andretti-Herta Autosport entry for Alexander Rossi has NAPA Auto Parts as announced for seven races (St. Petersburg, Long Beach, Indianapolis (both races) Road America, Watkins Glen and Sonoma). The team is working on the rest of the commercial program for this No. 98 Honda.
RAHAL LETTERMAN LANIGAN RACING
- Expect a similar portfolio of partners back for Graham Rahal’s No. 15 Honda as was in 2016. “Status quo” is a good way of putting it. United Rentals’ black, blue and chrome colors from AERO Advanced Paint Technology are on the No. 15 car this test.
- Oriol Servia’s confirmed for the Indianapolis 500 and pair of Detroit races in the second car. The team might be able to add the INDYCAR Grand Prix to the schedule, but is unlikely to run any of the first four races.
ED CARPENTER RACING
- Beyond Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka, ECR is yet to reveal any additional primary partners for 2017. All three of its confirmed drivers - JR Hildebrand, Ed Carpenter and Spencer Pigot - all took shots in Fuzzy’s Vodka firesuits (no, this pun was not intentional).
SCHMIDT PETERSON MOTORSPORTS
- A slightly different livery adorns the No. 5 Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda for James Hinchcliffe this year but it retains the same gold and black colors as last year.
- Mikhail Aleshin’s No. 7 SMP Racing Honda is all-black this test but is expected to join the red, white and blue car brigade once the SMP colors come on board.
A.J. FOYT ENTERPRISES
- Two ABC Supply Co. Chevrolets for the young guns, Conor Daly and Carlos Munoz. Distinguishing the near identical liveries is easier said than done!
DALE COYNE RACING
- As it stands, both Coyne cars will retain a white, red and blue livery with the Boy Scouts of America signage on Ed Jones’ No. 19 Honda. Sebastien Bourdais’ No. 18 car just says Dale Coyne Racing on it.