Ed Carpenter Racing has made a decision. They tested both Christian Rasmussen and Oliver Askew not too long ago at the Barber Motorsports Park. It was down to 1 of the 2 to join ECR for the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.

On Wednesday, we know their direction.

ECR announced that last year’s INDY NXT champion in Rasmussen will drive the No. 20 Dallara-Chevrolet in all road and street course events.

“He did an excellent job when we tested him at Barber Motorsports Park last month and showed that he is fully ready to take the next step into the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. We are excited to add him to our lineup and we are anticipating a successful 2024 season!” team owner, Ed Carpenter, said.

He’ll also contest in a third prepared ECR car for the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500.

“I am very excited to join Ed Carpenter Racing for the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season!” stated Rasmussen, who’s won 3 championships in the last 4 years in the Road to Indy program. “It is a dream come true and something I’ve been working towards for a long time now. I want to thank Ed Carpenter and Tim Broyles for the opportunity and I’m ready to get to work and show everyone what we can do!”

Rasmussen was only nine years old when he claimed his first karting championship in Denmark. He arrived in the United States in 2018 and began his road to INDYCAR the following year. He is only the second driver in history earn a championship in each open-wheel junior category that currently feeds the NTT INDYCAR SERIES – USF2000 (2020), USF Pro 2000 (2021) and INDY NXT (2023). This year’s title was the culmination of a dominant season that included five wins, eight podiums, 10 Top 5 finishes and 13 Top 10s in 14 races. By the season finale, he merely had to start the race to clinch the championship; instead, he led every lap and earned his fifth victory of the year. 

As a result of running part-time, the team will go back to just two entries and bring out a third for Indy only. The last two years, the 20 and 21 rides ran full-time with a single driver in each while Carpenter himself brought out a third ride for ovals only.

Now, Carpenter will shift back over to the 20 on ovals only and the third ride only used for the ‘500 for the 23-year-old Danish driver. Rasmussen will compete in the 12 road and street course events, Carpenter will take over the No. 20 for the six oval races in his 22nd season. Both will be entered in the Indianapolis 500 alongside Rinus VeeKay, driver of the No. 21 Chevrolet. VeeKay, who is also 23, will be competing in his 5th NTT INDYCAR SERIES season and step into a veteran role as ECR’s senior full-time driver. 

Carpenter continues to be an advocate for young talent with Rasmussen becoming the sixth INDY NXT champion to race an ECR Chevrolet.

Carpenter commented, “Christian is a driver that has really stood out during his climb through the Road to Indy program and he showed his ability to be a real closer in the second half of his INDY NXT championship run.”

ECR President Tim Broyles stated, “Christian is someone we have had our eye on for quite a while. He has proven that he is qualified to be a part of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and we are pleased that Ed Carpenter Racing is able to provide him with this well-deserved opportunity.”

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. ECR boasts 40 Top 5 results to date, 24 of which have been podium finishes. For 11 of the team’s 12 Indianapolis 500s, ECR has had at least one car qualify in the first three rows. An ECR Chevrolet has sat on the front row nine of those years, including three pole positions by Carpenter (2013, 2014 and 2018) and VeeKay’s second starting position this year.

With bringing Rasmussen in, the team shifts back to a bit younger again in the sense that they brought in Ryan Hunter-Reay as a veteran for the second half of last season to help steer the ship back in the right direction.

Hunter-Reay left ECR in a better spot than he first joined back in June. Mission accomplished. Rinus VeeKay learned a thing or two and if not for an opening incident to where he was punted off track by eventual race winner Scott Dixon in the season finale at Laguna Seca, a top 10 may have ensued.

Still, 4 top 11 finishes in the final 5 races put the 21 car back on the right path.

For the 20 car, Hunter-Reay gave it a top 10 in his final start. He did his job in keeping the ride in the leaders circle money.

Hunter-Reay finished 10th in the season finale.