The world of motorsport was rocked in September when Michael Andretti, the driving force behind Andretti Global, stepped away from the team, ceding control to team partner and investor Dan Towriss. Nearly a month after the transition, questions about the future of the iconic racing outfit continue to swirl, but Andretti COO Rob Edwards has provided a glimpse into what’s next for the team.
In a recent interview, Edwards confirmed that despite Andretti’s departure, the team’s name will remain unchanged. “You will continue to see Andretti Global,” he stated, reassuring fans that the name synonymous with motorsport excellence isn’t going anywhere soon.
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Edwards explained that the team’s three-car IndyCar lineup—featuring Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood, and newly acquired Marcus Ericsson—will largely remain the same. While the engineering side hasn’t expanded staff, they have retained key personnel from the recently concluded technical partnership with Meyer Shank Racing. Engineers Dave Seyfert and Ron Barhorst, who had been assigned to the MSR team, have found new roles within Andretti, reflecting the team’s commitment to keeping top talent in-house.
The upcoming 2025 IndyCar schedule, which compresses 17 races into less than six months, has prompted Andretti Global to rethink its operational structure. Edwards emphasized the need for additional crew members to handle the intense pace of the season and ensure the team can recover quickly from any setbacks. “There’s some restructuring and some additions to the crew on the cars and adding more depth to that area,” he explained.
In addition to technical and operational adjustments, Andretti Global has bolstered its marketing and sales efforts, an area that will be critical as the team continues to secure sponsors. With Towriss’ companies—Gainbridge and Delaware Life—sponsoring two of the team’s entries, and AutoNation backing Kyle Kirkwood’s No. 27 car, the team’s commercial outlook appears strong. Edwards, however, deferred further questions about sponsorship plans to Towriss, hinting at more developments to come.
Speculation has also surrounded the potential future of Jamie Chadwick, who spent two seasons with Andretti in Indy NXT, winning a race last season. While rumors suggested she might field a part-time IndyCar program in 2025, Edwards clarified that Chadwick won’t return to Indy NXT. “She and her team decided that having done two years of Indy NXT… doing more NXT is a bit of a challenge,” he said. Though there were discussions about selected IndyCar races, Edwards indicated that the team remains focused on its current three-car approach.
As for the Indianapolis 500, Edwards confirmed that Andretti Global will field an additional car, a tradition the team has maintained for years. However, he stopped short of confirming whether Marco Andretti will be making his 20th attempt to win the prestigious event, leaving that question unanswered for now.
With Towriss at the helm and stability in the team’s core structure, Andretti Global is entering a new chapter. While change is inevitable, the team remains committed to its IndyCar success, poised to tackle the challenges of the future while staying true to its roots in racing excellence.