Shell’s 100% Renewable Race Fuel will power every IndyCar car from the 2027 season onward, marking the series’ first fully green drive since its 2023 launch.
IndyCar’s new partnership with Shell builds on a decade‑long collaboration that has seen the racing series become the first major U.S. motorsport to compete on renewable fuel. The updated formula merges U.S.‑sourced ethanol with additional renewable components to maintain the strict performance standards demanded by IndyCar’s high‑output engines.
The ethanol feedstock for the 2027 fuel is now harvested locally in Indiana, the state that hosts both the IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The grain‑mixture distillery process repurposes agricultural waste, turning a by‑product into a high‑energy renewable resource that can be blended directly into the race fuel.
Shell highlights a minimum 70 percent cut in greenhouse‑gas emissions compared with the Renewable Fuel Standard’s gasoline baseline. “Our renewable race fuel is engineered to retain the relentless performance and reliability IndyCar requires while sourcing 100 percent of its renewable material from U.S. sources,” said Shell USA president Colette Hirstius.
Mark Miles, president and CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp, emphasized the partnership as a “continuation of a longstanding alliance that leverages racing as a platform for technological innovation.” He added that the fuel program demonstrates how industry leaders can progress sustainability without compromising competition.
State House speaker Todd Huston celebrated the initiative, noting that Indiana’s agricultural strength now powers the world‑famous racing series. “Using Indiana‑grown renewables on IndyCar promotes local farmers and showcases Indiana’s innovation on a global stage,” he declared.
Driver David Malukas of the #12 Team Penske Chevrolet echoed the enthusiasm, remarking that “Shell’s dedication to Team Penske and the IndyCar Series is unparalleled.” He called the launch a perfect fit for a season featuring the Freedom 250 race weekend.
With the 2027 formula set, every IndyCar entry will compete on a fuel that blends renewable ethanol from Indiana with additional U.S. components. The move safeguards engine durability, accelerates emissions reductions, and underscores IndyCar’s evolving identity as a champion of clean racing.
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