2019 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Santino Ferrucci will return to the NTT IndyCar Series with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing to compete in the No. 45 car for the 2021 Indianapolis 500. Employee-owned supermarket chain Hy-Vee will be sponsoring the entry.
Ferrucci left IndyCar after two full seasons with Dale Coyne Racing in 2019 and Coyne’s entry with Vasser-Sullivan in 2020 to race part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Sam Hunt Racing. Ferrucci impressed on the oval tracks, finishing a career-best fourth place four times on ovals.
Ferrucci has been particularly impressive at the Indy 500, winning his rookie of the year honors by tearing through the field to finish seventh after qualifying twenty-third. In 2020, he improved upon that mark by posting a fourth place finish at the event, just behind now-teammates Graham Rahal and race winner Takuma Sato.
“I am excited to be competing in the Indianapolis 500 with Hy-Vee and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing,” Ferrucci said.
“It’s a great opportunity and I cannot thank the team, owners and partners enough for believing in me. I’m super excited to start spending some time at the shop in Indianapolis and preparing for an incredible run this May.”
Hy-Vee joined RLLR in 2020 as the primary sponsor for Rahal’s entry at the second race of the Iowa Indy 250s as well as Spencer Pigot‘s entry in the Indy 500. This year, the company will be the primary sponsor for Rahal’s entries at Road America and World Wide Technology Raceway, and an associate sponsor all season long.
“The excitement and energy that the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team brings forth to our partnership is like none other,” said Hy-Vee President and CEO Randy Edeker.
“The team truly cares about its fans just like we care about our customers at Hy-Vee. Since signing on as a sponsor last year, we’ve heard from people all over the country about our involvement in racing. We know we have a fantastic season coming up that fans across the country as well as our employees will enjoy.”
Ferrucci will join the team in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a two-day test on 08-09 April before the season begins on 18 April at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. The 2021 Indianapolis 500 will take place on 30 May.
