IndyCar News: Ed Carpenter’s team signs Java House & Splenda

Ed Carpenter Racing announced today primary partners for part of the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. With paint schemes unveiled yesterday on social media, Alexander Rossi will begin the season in the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet while Christian Rasmussen competes in the No. 21 Splenda Chevrolet.

The brands will be featured prominently throughout the year, including holding the primary location for the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

The addition of Java House and Splenda-branded NTT INDYCAR SERIES cars is the latest in a string of exciting developments for the Indianapolis-based race team. In late September 2024, ECR’s ownership group expanded to include a fourth Indiana businessman: Ted Gelov, owner of Heartland Food Products Group. The following day, Indianapolis 500 champion Alexander Rossi joined ECR as driver of the No. 20 Chevrolet while Christian Rasmussen was elevated to full-time driver of the No. 21 Chevrolet. In mid-January 2025, ECR unveiled an updated brand identity, including a new logo and brand colors. The No. 20 Java House Chevrolet and the No. 21 Splenda Chevrolet will carry those colors, dubbed Indiana Gold and Carpenter Blue by the team.

“We are excited to officially share that there will be a Java House car and a Splenda car on the grid when the 2025 season begins!” stated Gelov. “Pairing the iconic Splenda brand with ECR is a perfect fit for the team’s upward trajectory. In addition to having a Java House car, it is also a great to be able share Java House products at different tracks throughout the season. We can’t wait to see fans wearing our Indiana Gold and Carpenter Blue up in the grandstands!”

Splenda®, the most recognizable low-calorie sweetener brand in the world, will be featured on Rasmussen’s No. 21 Chevrolet. Since Splenda’s launch in 1991, more than 100 billion yellow packets have been sold. Coincidentally, Splenda’s packaging facility and ECR’s race shop are both on Georgetown Road in Indianapolis with locations less than one mile apart.

In addition to its versatile Peel n Pour™ single serve beverages, Java House owns and operates cafes in the Indianapolis and Lafayette, IN markets. Java House made its on-track debut on Rossi’s No. 20 Chevrolet during a test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in October 2024. The innovative cold brew coffee brand will now serve as Rossi’s primary sponsor at select races throughout the 2025 season, beginning in the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.

The 2025 season will mark ECR’s 14th year of competition. Since its inception in 2012, ECR has raced exclusively in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The team has shown its versatility by earning multiple wins across each style of track the series competes on – street and road courses, short ovals and super speedways. The full-season lineup of Rossi and Rasmussen will expand to three cars for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500, when ECR co-owner Ed Carpenter will join in the team’s third entry.

“It is extremely exciting to have Java House and Splenda join our lineup! To have not only one, but two, consumer brands is a great opportunity for ECR and INDYCAR,” said Carpenter. “In the few short months since Ted has joined ECR, the strides the team has made have been remarkable. It has been a full team effort and I am proud of everyone for the work they have put in. We are more than ready to see everything come to fruition when the Java House and Splenda cars roll out in St. Pete!”

Both Rossi’s No. 20 Java House Chevrolet and Rasmussen’s No. 21 Splenda Chevrolet will be on track for the first time today as pair participate in a two-day test at Sebring International Raceway. The 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season kicks off next week in the Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida with on-track activity beginning Friday, February 28. The 2025 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will be broadcast live on FOX at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 2