Ed Carpenter Racing Announces Strategic Technical Partnership with AVL RACETECH for 2026 Season

Ed Carpenter Racing announces a major technical partnership with AVL RACETECH to boost simulation and engineering capabilities in IndyCar.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 26, 2026, 7:56 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Motorsport.com

Elevating Engineering Standards

In an increasingly data-driven era of IndyCar competition, Ed Carpenter Racing has taken a significant step toward modernizing its technical infrastructure. The team officially announced a new partnership with AVL RACETECH, the specialized motorsport division of AVL. By integrating AVL’s world-renowned simulation software and testing methodologies into its daily operations, ECR aims to bridge the gap to the series' larger multi-car organizations. The partnership will focus on optimizing vehicle dynamics and power unit integration, ensuring that the team’s Chevrolet-powered entries are operating at peak efficiency.

Advanced Simulation and 'Digital Twin' Technology

The cornerstone of the agreement is the implementation of AVL RACETECH’s advanced "Digital Twin" technology. This allows ECR engineers to create a high-fidelity virtual model of their race cars, enabling thousands of simulated laps under varying track conditions before the team even arrives at the circuit. This capability is particularly vital given IndyCar’s limited on-track practice time. By refining setups in the virtual world, the team can arrive at race weekends with a more accurate "baseline" configuration, allowing drivers to focus on fine-tuning rather than fundamental problem-solving.

Consistency Across Diverse Tracks

For Ed Carpenter Racing, a team that has historically excelled on ovals while occasionally struggling for consistency on road and street courses, the AVL partnership offers a chance for a more balanced competitive profile. AVL RACETECH’s expertise in tire modeling and aerodynamic simulation will be utilized to unlock performance on permanent road courses and bumpy street circuits. Team owner Ed Carpenter emphasized that the goal is to provide his drivers—including himself for the oval events—with a more predictable and versatile platform regardless of the venue.