The Shell Starship is back!
- Published on 28/02/2026 10:18
The futuristic Shell truck returns to the road in 2026 at the heart of the American INDYCAR championship.
Shell and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES officially announced on February 27 the return of the Shell Starship to the championship’s logistics fleet for the 2026 season. More than just a show truck, this experimental heavyweight aims to demonstrate, in real-world conditions, the potential of low-emission transportation technologies.
Already seen in 2025 after the Indianapolis 500, the Starship made a mark by becoming the first Class 8 truck running on natural gas to operate within a major national motorsport series in North America. In 2026, it will continue its mission by transporting the INDYCAR’s administrative trailer for almost the entire calendar.
Shell and the positive sentiments of competition
Under its streamlined body lies a Cummins X15N natural gas engine, lubricated with a specific oil developed by Shell. The goal is clear: to combine advanced aerodynamic design, efficient powertrain, and alternative fuels. This season, the program aims to increase the share of renewable natural gas (RNG) compared to 2025, to further reduce the carbon footprint of the journeys.
Beyond logistics, the Starship will also play a symbolic role. It will lead the truck parade during the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington and participate in the famous 500 Festival parade before the Indianapolis 500. It will even make an appearance in the official video games produced by iRacing Studios, proving its visual and marketing impact.
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This return is part of a broader collaboration between Shell and INDYCAR, already marked by the introduction of a 100% renewable racing fuel in 2023. Through the Starship, the American championship is transforming its paddocks into a rolling laboratory, with the ambition of applying, on a large scale, the solutions tested on the circuits.
ALSO READ: With Starship, Indycar runs on natural gas
This page is translated from the original post "Le Starship de Shell est de retour !" in French.
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