New Look Andretti Global Ready for Indy 500
(L) Jill Gregory, (R) Dan Towriss
James Black/Penske Entertainment
By Dennis Krause
It’s a different Andretti Global heading into Sunday’s Indianapolis 500. The winners of five Indianapolis 500s and four NTT INDYCAR SERIES championships, Andretti Global, part of TWG Motorsports, is now headed by Dan Towriss, the founder and CEO of Group 1001, an insurance and financial services company.
A major investor in Andretti Global, Towriss took over the team late in 2024 after Michael Andretti transitioned into a more strategic role rather than operational. Towriss now oversees an operation with teams in Formula One, INDYCAR, NASCAR, Formula E, Australian Supercars and sports cars.
“It's a huge weekend for us,” Towriss understated. “Obviously the Indianapolis 500 is the greatest spectacle in racing. Racing with 350,000 people is a tremendous opportunity and event in motorsport.
“Again, I think, as we look across the platform, whether it's NASCAR, INDYCAR, Formula E, sports cars, Australian V8 Supercars, Formula One, on any weekend, yeah, TWG Motorsports, we could be racing in upwards of six series across the globe.
“I think, in terms of each team, we're trying to build a global platform. Each team is at a different stage in their development, and we're building and just getting better each and every race to build a world class motorsports platform, whether it's INDYCAR, NASCAR, and the like. I think you see that upward trajectory in every series.”
Jill Gregory, president of Andretti Global, echoed Towriss on the importance of the month of May and the Indianapolis 500 to the company.
“The month of May means so much to everybody here and not just what happens on the track,” said Gregory. “We've been building or rebuilding this organization. We've got a lot of new people. So making sure that the team is operating as one.
“Building a winning culture is not just about winning on race day, although that's obviously important, it's what we're doing each and every day to get ready for that. And May puts a certain amount of emphasis and pressure for all of us, but it's what we've been doing every day that makes us ready for this month.”
(L) Power, (R) Ruzewski
Chris Owens/Penske Entertainment
Formerly of Team Penske, Ron Ruzewski was brought on this season as Team Principal of Andretti Global. Coming from a successful operation at Penske, Ruzewski noted what stood out about his new team and its early successes this season.
“Initially there's a lot of experience here, there's a lot of commitment by the individuals. It's a rich culture of people that are willing to do pretty much whatever we ask of them because they are committed to the organization and they really -- they want to win.
“So I think just trying to -- look, there's no silver bullets. There's no individuals that are just going to come in here and storm away and turn it around and make it a winning operation in one day.
“So it's just harnessing that energy. We're making gains. We led the Championship for the first part of the year. That was coming out of the gate strong, and we're going to continue to build on those successes.”
Joining Andretti Global from Team Penske is 2018 Indy 500 winner and 2-time series champion Will Power. Like Ruzewski, after spending so many years with one organization, the driver of the No. 26 TWG AI Honda believes the team has made big improvements already heading into Sunday’s 500.
“Yeah, it has been really good,” Power said. “It doesn't appear so, as far as the results, but I've led three races this year, certainly had a chance to win a couple times. I think we've made big improvements on short ovals, road courses, obviously Kyle's right there in the Championship.
“So the organization is great. The people are great. Obviously we're working hard putting processes in place. I think we had really good handling cars here yesterday, but obviously there was a little bit of speed lacking. But honestly I think our race cars are really good just with the work we've done in the short period we've had leading up to this.
“I'm definitely looking forward to the race. Just watch Kyle, obviously been the strongest guy out there in practice, just watching him chop through the field. Marcus (Ericsson) and I also have good cars. Yeah, confident that we can be right out in front at the end of this race.”
Amber Pietz/Penske Entertainment
Currently second in the season standings, Kirkwood hopes to capitalize on that momentum in the 500.
“Momentum is a big thing in motorsports,” said the driver of the No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda, “and we definitely had it on our side last year, this year. You can tell that it's growing and it's continuing to grow with this leadership, these guys, guys and girls, and everyone a part of the team has been very crucial in that.
“It's a cool time to be part of Andretti under this group right now because there hasn't been a single race that I've gone to this year that I felt like we can't win. Every race that we've gone to, we've had a shot at winning. So it's been really good. It's been really, really good.”
Ericsson admits his confidence took a hit last season. But the driver of the No. 28 Phoenix Investors Honda started off the season with a new attitude and is feeling confident once again.
“I'm feeling great,” confirmed Ericsson. “I think we've had a really good start. I think like Will it maybe hasn't shown it in the end results, but I think in general all three Andretti cars have been competitive every single weekend, and we've been fast every session, every type of track.
“I think that's been a big thing for us as a team, but also me personally. Last year was definitely a sort of negative spiral after the season not going well. I put in a ton of work in the winter, and I'm really proud of that paying off. The hard work has paid off.
“I felt really like I've been driving at my best this year. We were unlucky too, mechanical failures the last two races really lost us some valuable points and has been completely out of our control. I think without that we would have been well inside the top 10 in the championship.
“Yeah, I feel really confident, and I know how to drive this race. So I'm excited to show that next Sunday.”
Aaron Skillman/Penske Entertainment
In previous years, Andretti Global has entered multiple one-offs for the 500. The team had planned to enter a fourth car this year, but when driver Colton Herta became unavailable due to a Formula Two race being added to the Canadian Grand Prix schedule, Towriss and Ruzewski decided to keep it to just the regular three-car lineup.
“I think, once it was apparent that Colton was going to be running in Formula Two, Ron and I talked about it, and we actually spent a few hours in the shop walking around, looking at all the work being done on the cars to get ready for this race.
“I think we decided that -- it was a joint decision. It was really just about putting the best -- putting our best foot forward and not trying to just find a fourth driver. I think you plan for this race. You don't just jump into this race.
“So as we think about -- you know, the way I always like to think about it is you're sitting in a drivers meeting and you're looking at the four drivers there. Does that fourth person elevate the three that we have, or does it somehow feel like an exhibition?
“So as I think about that, it was our heads are down. We're here to win this race, not just to say that we have four cars in the race. So I think that about business type of mentality, that workman's mentality is really what made the decision to run these three cars, to put these three best drivers that each have a great shot at winning this race, and that's what Andretti's bringing this year.”
As the biggest race of the year approaches, Towriss couldn’t be more happy with his three drivers and how they’re all working together. It’s part of the culture he’s trying to bring to the organization.
“It's been fantastic. I can't say enough good things about Will, what he's brought to the team, Kyle and Marcus, they're all three the consummate teammates. Anyone else in this series would want any one of these three as their team in INDYCAR.
“Also, it's part of the culture. We don't want rivals. That's something that's often talked about. Maybe it's more of a Formula One concept, but regardless, we are a team. We want these guys working together. So when we have that camaraderie and they have that sharing, it's everybody is doing their best to put that forward. If it's helping another person -- it really is a rising tide lifts all boats mentality.
Paul Hurley/Penske Entertainment
“If Will is sharing something with Marcus that's making Marcus better, that's just going to raise the bar and push Will. So that competition, even amongst the team, of knowing you're in a drivers meeting, you look across, any one of those three can win the race that day. So they're challenging themselves.
“So having that push from within the team, not just from pressure from outside of the team, I think is essential. And for them to be able to do it with the relationships that they have, I think just speaks volumes about the character of the three drivers.”
Dennis Krause has spent decades covering all forms of motorsports, including over 40 Indianapolis 500s, with stints at WIBA Radio, PIT PASS - Radio’s Premier Motorsports Magazine and Motorsports Minute. Follow him on X @DennisKrause500 or motorsportsminute.bluesky.social or motorsportsminute on Threads or MotorsportsMinute+ on Facebook.