Santino Ferrucci is once again a full-time competitor in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES as he will drive the fabled No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet in 2023.
Ferrucci’s car will be prepared from the team’s Waller, Texas, headquarters while new rookie teammate Benjamin Pedersen’s car will be fielded from Foyt’s Indianapolis shop.
Connecticut native Ferrucci, 24, last raced full time in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2020 with Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan. In the last two years, he has been a capable substitute for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Juncos Hollinger Racing in addition to racing in the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge for RLLR and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
Ferrucci has recorded six top-10 finishes in eight NTT INDYCAR SERIES starts over the last two seasons, including consecutive results of sixth in the Indy 500 and Chevrolet Grand Prix at Belle Isle in 2021 for RLLR. He also has recorded four top-10 finishes in the Indy 500 in four career starts, including a best of fourth in 2020.
"It's incredibly exciting to be back in the INDYCAR SERIES full time," Ferrucci said. "Being a part-time driver over the last two years has been hard for me, personally. I’m a race car 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."
Team President Larry Foyt consulted with his famous father about bringing Ferrucci into the fold for 2023. Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt had chatted with Ferrucci several times this year and liked his attitude.
"I am thrilled to welcome Santino to the team," Larry Foyt said. "He’s shown a knack for getting toward 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."
Ferrucci is just as enthusiastic about the move to AJ Foyt Racing.
"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.”
Like his new boss A.J. Foyt, Ferrucci has shown he’s willing to race in a variety of machines. In the last three years, he has raced a midget in the Chili Bowl Nationals and NASCAR Xfinity Series besides NTT INDYCAR SERIES starts.
Ferrucci joined the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2018 as an injury substitution for Pietro Fittipaldi with Dale Coyne Racing, starting to compete for the team full time in 2019. Ferrucci earned Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honors after finishing seventh in 2019, one of his seven top-10 results that season.
Before coming to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Ferrucci raced in Formula 2 and other junior open-wheel formulas in Europe. He was a development driver for the Haas F1 Team in 2017-18.
"INDYCAR became my goal after leaving F1 in 2018," Ferrucci said. "I finished up my season in Europe and was asked to fill in for Pietro in the Detroit Grand Prix. I instantly fell in love with the cars, the style of racing and the people. That's when I knew that INDYCAR needed to be my new home."