Chip Ganassi Racing and DHL Express announced Dec. 12 a new, multiyear partnership, establishing DHL as the primary partner of the No. 10 Honda driven by defending two-time and reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou.
The agreement sees the 15-time INDYCAR SERIES championship team joining forces with the world’s leading global shipping and logistics company.
Palou and the No. 10 team will start their 2024 championship defense at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding on March 10, just a few hundred miles away from the DHL Regional Headquarters in Plantation, Florida.
“I am extremely proud to welcome DHL to the Chip Ganassi Racing family,” team owner Chip Ganassi said. “It is an honor to partner with an organization that shares our fundamental values of teamwork, growth, responsibility and the pursuit of excellence.
“Together, we are committed to embodying those values both on and off the racetrack. I am looking forward to Alex and the No. 10 team defending their 2023 title with DHL onboard. The road ahead holds great promise and potential, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Founded in 1969, DHL was established as a courier service that delivered clearance documents between San Francisco and Honolulu by air so they would arrive at customs before the freight itself. Today, DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry and one of the most international companies, with about 395,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Chip Ganassi Racing, an organization that has a rich history of success, deeply rooted in principles shared by DHL, such as a commitment to supporting the communities we call home and the relentless pursuit of excellence by investing in our people who embody speed, passion and dedication,” said Mike Parra, CEO of DHL Express Americas and head of global sponsorships. “As we sponsor this winning motorsports team with Alex Palou behind the wheel, we look forward to many winning moments both on and off the track in the months and years to come.”
Palou’s 2023 season was one for the record books, as he became just the sixth driver in the 100-plus-year history of the sport to win multiple championships at age 26 or younger (Mario Andretti, Sebastien Bourdais, A.J. Foyt, Sam Hornish Jr., Louis Meyer). He also became the first driver to clinch the championship prior to the season finale since 2007.
Spaniard Palou looks to secure a third career championship, something no driver has achieved since his teammate and six-time champion Scott Dixon in 2013 and Chip Ganassi Racing’s advisor Dario Franchitti in 2010.
“It’s super exciting to announce our new partnership with DHL, a global leader in logistics,” Palou said. “Representing such a successful and widely recognized brand is a true honor. Their iconic yellow and red colors not only stand out, but they also remind me of my native Spain’s colors.
“As our team looks back at our remarkable success last year, we are eager to carry that momentum forward and aim for a third title with the support of DHL. I am especially thrilled to hit the ground running alongside the dedicated men and women of our 10-car crew in 2024.”