PREMA Racing, one of Europe’s most decorated junior formula outfits, is rumored to be putting its IndyCar program up for sale after only a single season in the series. According to IndyCar insider Marshall Pruett, the Italian team has set an asking price in the range of $20–25 million.
From Europe to IndyCar
PREMA racing announced its entry into IndyCar in early 2024, fast-tracking preparations for a 2025 debut. The program was spearheaded by Angelina Ertsou and Rene Rosin, with much of its staff relocating from Europe to form the core of the new operation.
The driver lineup featured two former Ferrari Academy talents: Robert Shwartzman and Callum Ilott. While Ilott brought two years of IndyCar experience, he admitted in April that the team was “playing a catch-up game” after starting from scratch.
Read More: 2026 NTT IndyCar Schedule
Rookie Highlights and Struggles
PREMA’s standout moment came at the Indianapolis 500, where Shwartzman stunned the paddock by becoming the first rookie in 83 years to secure pole position. However, his race ended in disappointment, and the rest of the season proved equally challenging.
Ilott, by contrast, closed the year strongly with four top-10 finishes in the final five races, showing signs of progress for the fledgling team.
PREMA Racing Financial Headwinds
Despite flashes of promise, PREMA racing now faces financial uncertainty. Co-owner Deborah Mayer reportedly committed over $40 million to launch the IndyCar project, but sustaining the effort into 2026 has become increasingly difficult.
Pruett noted that while multiple team owners have heard rumors of a sale, none have been directly approached by PREMA racing:
“I’ve had a few team owners tell me they’ve heard the entire team is up for sale (the asking price has ranged between $20–25 million), but when I ask if they’ve been contacted by PREMA to buy the team, they’ve said no. Which I’ve said is strange, since the 10 other teams would be the first you’d expect to hear from the 11th team if the 11th was indeed for sale.”
An Uncertain Future
Whether PREMA finds a buyer or decides to continue remains unclear. What is certain is that the team’s bold leap from European junior formulas to America’s top open-wheel series has quickly become one of IndyCar’s most closely watched storylines heading into 2026.
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