Shell and IndyCar announced that the Shell Starship 3.0 will be the official transport vehicle for the Pennzoil tech inspection trailer for the remainder of the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series season, beginning with the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on June 1.
Thomas Mueller, general manager of commercial road transport at Shell, said the company likes to prove its products on the track.
Speaking at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana on May 15, he added that since 2023 Shell has been providing 100% renewable racing fuel for the series. “The truck’s not going to be on the track, but it’s going to do the job from track to track in between. It’s a rolling research paper, and we expect that we’re going to learn quite a bit as we put this truck to work.”
Shell Starship, powered by a Cummins X15N natural gas engine and lubricated with Shell Rotella natural gas engine oil, is the first natural gas-powered Class 8 truck to operate within a national racing series fleet in North America.
Mueller said that integrating the Shell Starship into IndyCar’s operations is the next step in demonstrating how technologies can support real-world logistics while helping reduce carbon emissions.
The truck demonstrates the potential of today’s efficient technologies, such as a lightweight aerodynamic carbon fiber body, a camera-based system that reduces drag compared to traditional mirrors and a lightweight chassis, to help lower emissions in the commercial road sector.
Decarbonizing freight
“The trucking industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation as we decarbonize freight movement across North America, driven by sustainability goals, regulatory demands and the pursuit of lower total cost of ownership,” said Mike Roeth, executive director of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE). “Shell Starship plays a key role as part of this journey by demonstrating what’s possible through improved freight-ton efficiency and the use of renewable natural gas.”
Doug Boles, president of IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway said the goal is to be more sustainable while not impacting the racing product. “When you take the Starship 3.0, the Cummins engine in it and pull our tech trailer down the road, it’s a great example for us to talk about how we can prove out ways to be sustainable,” he said.
Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden said that in racing you are always pushing the limits of speed. “The more sustainable we become, the faster we go. We’re trying to put things on the absolute edge, but we’re trying to do it as efficiently as possible,” he said.
In a demonstration run, Shell said that the Starship 3.0 fully loaded and powered by renewable natural gas achieved a fuel economy of approximately 9 mpg (diesel gallon equivalent) and a range of approximately 890 miles (1,432 km).
