The agreement retains branding on all three entries
Team Penske and Hitachi announced their partnership extension on 20 October for the 2027 IndyCar season. The championship’s official report says the branding will remain on the front wings of the Chevrolet-powered number 2, 3 and 12 entries. The sponsorship relationship began in 2012.
A collaboration extending beyond the race team
In its release distributed through PR Newswire, Hitachi separately describes technology work for Penske Transportation Solutions, including vehicle diagnostics and predictive maintenance. The technology collaboration dates from 2018 and includes software development, digital engineering, cybersecurity and managed services. The company says this collaboration generated more than 18 million dollars in annualised savings. The figure concerns the fleet operations described by the issuer. It is not the value of the IndyCar contract or the budget available for developing the race cars.
Chevrolet: a separate announcement on 8 October
Engine continuity had been confirmed separately through the multi-year Penske–Chevrolet extension announced on 8 October. The championship’s report recalled the team’s 2026 wins at Phoenix, World Wide Technology Raceway and Laguna Seca. The two agreements provide different information for 2027: one identifies the engine partner, while the other concerns the presence of a commercial and technology partner.
What the agreement says about next season
APEX’s interpretation: retaining important partners can support stability during preparation between seasons. A commercial announcement does not by itself establish competitiveness on track or replace announcements about drivers and technical configuration. For fans, the three entry numbers provide the concrete reference for Hitachi’s presence. Performance will need to be assessed through qualifying, races and the following season’s championship standings.
