Ed Carpenter Racing has entered a significant technical partnership with AVL RACETECH as the team prepares for the 2026 IndyCarseason, aiming to enhance its competitiveness through advanced vehicle simulation technologies. This ongoing collaboration, officially formalized ahead of next year’s competition, could provide ECR with a crucial edge by improving car setup and preparation across the diverse IndyCar schedule.
How AVL RACETECH’s Simulation Tools Will Transform ECR’s Racing Strategy
The centerpiece of this partnership is AVL’s AVL VSM RACE platform, a dynamic vehicle simulation system which allows ECR’s engineers to virtually test and refine race car setups long before arriving at the track. Given the variety of circuits in the IndyCar series—including street courses, permanent road circuits, and high-speed ovals—teams typically face limited time to optimize vehicle configurations. This simulation system enables the team to preemptively address these challenges by virtually running numerous laps through cloud computing, providing detailed data on car performance and potential setup adjustments.
Ed Carpenter, team founder and co-owner, emphasized the comprehensive benefits the partnership brings to the program:
“Partnering with AVL RACETECH strengthens every part of our program. Their expertise gives us tools to push deeper, innovate faster, and elevate the performance standard we expect at ECR.”
The competitive side of the team shares this enthusiasm. Matt Barnes, Vice President of Competition, remarked on how access to AVL’s simulation and development tools could enhance their engineering efforts:
Image of: Ed Carpenter
“Partnering with AVL RACETECH gives us access to world-class simulation and development tools that elevate every aspect of our engineering program.”
Ellen Lohr, Director Motorsport at AVL List GmbH, highlighted the increasing demands of IndyCar racing and the importance of this formal collaboration:
“IndyCar represents one of the most demanding environments in global open-wheel racing. The fact that we are now transforming our collaboration with ECR into an official partnership underscores the mutual trust between us.”
Building Momentum with a Strong Driver Lineup and New Tools
Coming off a season marked by notable progress, including Christian Rasmussen’s first career IndyCar victory and the team’s first win since 2021, Ed Carpenter Racing enters 2026 with heightened ambition. This performance boost provides a solid foundation as the team integrates AVL’s simulation technology to sharpen its competitive advantage.
The 2026 roster is set to feature both Rasmussen and Alexander Rossi, with Ed Carpenter expected to compete in the iconic Indianapolis 500. This race remains the crown jewel of the season and a critical target for the team’s success.
The season will open at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, a street circuit known for its difficulty and unpredictability. This event traditionally serves as an early indicator of which teams successfully developed their cars over the offseason. Ed Carpenter Racing expects the deepened partnership with AVL RACETECH to help the team arrive better prepared and more competitive at this challenging venue.
While new technology and relationships set the stage for improved results, actual success will depend on execution during race weekends. However, by enhancing the tools available to their engineers and drivers, ECR aims to approach the entire season with greater efficiency and confidence, hoping this collaboration leads to stronger performances on track.
