News Summary
- AJ Foyt Racing has confirmed Josh Pierson on a multi-year IndyCar contract beginning in 2027, with the American taking over the #4 Chevrolet previously driven by Caio Collet.
- Pierson will partner Dennis Hauger in an entirely new Foyt line-up, after passing IndyCar’s special licensing evaluation earlier in October.
- Collet is now without a confirmed seat for 2027, although the Brazilian has been exploring opportunities with Dale Coyne Racing and Juncos Hollinger Racing.
AJ Foyt Racing has officially signed Josh Pierson to a multi-year agreement for the 2027 IndyCar season, confirming the 20-year-old American as Caio Collet’s replacement in the #4 Chevrolet. The announcement was made on Tuesday (October 27) and completes a new driver pairing for the team, with 2026 Rookie of the Year Dennis Hauger already confirmed in the #14.
Pierson’s arrival ends months of speculation surrounding Foyt’s second seat, following a complicated licensing process and reports of a substantial financial package attached to his candidacy. For Collet, the decision means he must find another team if he is to remain on the IndyCar grid for a second full season.
Foyt confirms Pierson alongside Hauger for 2027
Pierson joins AJ Foyt Racing after four seasons competing in Indy NXT, the principal development championship for IndyCar.
The American, who turns 21 in February, finished 11th in the 2026 standings but secured his first victory during the final round at Laguna Seca.
He also recorded two pole positions and became increasingly competitive during the closing stages of the campaign.
Those performances strengthened his candidacy for Foyt, which had been evaluating him through a series of tests.
The team has now ended the uncertainty by announcing a multi-year contract.
Pierson will drive the #4 Chevrolet, with a new sponsor expected to be announced separately.
The American celebrated the opportunity to progress to the championship he has been targeting throughout his career.
“Racing in INDYCAR has been my dream for as long as I can remember,” Pierson said in the official announcement.
“The variety of racing I’ve done has all been in preparation for this incredible opportunity.”
He also thanked the team’s management and the commercial partners involved in securing the agreement.
The move places Pierson alongside Hauger, who signed for AJ Foyt Racing in September after winning IndyCar’s 2026 Rookie of the Year award.
Hauger will replace Santino Ferrucci in the #14 Chevrolet, meaning neither of Foyt’s 2026 regular drivers will retain a full-time seat with the organisation next year.
AJ Foyt Racing — 2026 vs 2027
| Car | 2026 driver | Confirmed 2027 driver |
|---|---|---|
| #4 Chevrolet | C. COLLET | J. PIERSON |
| #14 Chevrolet | S. FERRUCCI | D. HAUGER |
The changes establish one of the youngest driver combinations on the 2027 IndyCar grid.
Hauger will enter his second season after a successful rookie campaign, while Pierson will be making his championship debut.
Pierson overcomes IndyCar licensing obstacle before securing contract
The confirmation follows a significant complication that emerged during negotiations.
IndyCar introduced stricter eligibility criteria for drivers progressing from its development championship.
Under those regulations, Indy NXT competitors generally need strong recent results to qualify automatically for an IndyCar licence.
Pierson initially did not meet the automatic requirements, creating uncertainty about whether he could complete the move to Foyt.
His victory at Laguna Seca, however, allowed him to apply for a special assessment.
The American subsequently completed a licensing evaluation at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on October 13.
Championship officials assessed his car control, pace, consistency and communication before confirming that he met the relevant standards.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO reported after his successful evaluation, the decision eliminated the principal regulatory obstacle to his debut.
With eligibility secured, the remaining task was to finalise the agreement with Foyt.
Tuesday’s announcement confirms that the negotiations have now been completed.
What happens to Caio Collet after losing Foyt seat?
The most immediate consequence concerns Collet.
The Brazilian completed his first full IndyCar season in 2026 driving Foyt’s #4 Chevrolet, earning 203 championship points.
He finished 24th overall and recorded a best result of ninth place at the Washington Grand Prix.
Collet also led 16 laps during his rookie campaign, gaining experience across street circuits, permanent road courses and ovals.
However, the team’s plans for 2027 gradually moved in another direction.
Pierson emerged as a leading candidate during the second half of the season, with reports that his programme included approximately US$25 million in financial backing over two years.
That figure was reported during the negotiations and has not been independently confirmed as the final value of his contract.
The money was considered particularly important to Foyt as the team prepared for the introduction of IndyCar’s new IR-28 chassis in 2028.
The organisation has also faced additional financial pressures, including litigation involving former driver Benjamin Pedersen.
Collet’s future consequently became uncertain before the season ended.
The Brazilian had been exploring alternative opportunities, with Dale Coyne Racing and Juncos Hollinger Racing among the teams considered.
Neither organisation has announced a deal with him.
Pierson’s confirmation therefore removes Foyt from Collet’s available options, increasing the importance of securing a position elsewhere.
Collet has lost his Foyt seat, but he has not been confirmed out of IndyCar for 2027.
His next career move remains unresolved.
Larry Foyt praises Pierson’s experience and development
Despite his modest final Indy NXT championship position, Pierson arrives with an unusually varied background for a young American single-seater driver.
He has competed in several international sports car championships and became the youngest driver to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the age of 16.
His endurance racing experience includes appearances in the FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA and Asian Le Mans Series.
That background helped establish his reputation before his move back towards single-seater racing.
Pierson joined Indy NXT in 2023 and recorded his strongest championship finish in 2025, taking sixth place with HMD Motorsports.
His 2026 campaign with Andretti Global produced his first victory in the category, achieved from pole position at Laguna Seca.
The American led every lap of that race.
AJ Foyt Racing president Larry Foyt highlighted the driver’s maturity and range of experience when explaining the team’s decision.
“I’ve been watching Josh closely for the past several seasons,” Foyt said.
“Few drivers at his age have his depth of experience, and his maturity and work ethic are remarkable.”
The team president added that he believed in Pierson’s potential and was looking forward to contributing to his development.
The agreement gives Foyt a young driver with experience in different forms of racing, although adapting to IndyCar’s longer races and competitive field will present a significant challenge.
Hauger and Pierson mark complete reset for AJ Foyt Racing
The arrival of Pierson completes an extensive restructuring of the team’s driver programme.
Hauger joins from Dale Coyne Racing after winning the 2026 IndyCar Rookie of the Year award.
The Norwegian arrived in the championship as the reigning Indy NXT champion and finished his debut campaign with 228 points.
He placed ahead of fellow rookies Mick Schumacher and Collet, establishing himself as a promising prospect.
His move to Foyt was confirmed in September, when the organisation announced that Ferrucci would not continue in its #14 entry.
At that stage, the identity of the second driver remained unresolved because of Pierson’s licensing situation.
Now, both seats have been settled.
Confirmed Foyt drivers for 2027
| Driver | Nationality | Car | 2026 programme |
|---|---|---|---|
| D. HAUGER | Norway | #14 Chevrolet | IndyCar — Dale Coyne Racing |
| J. PIERSON | United States | #4 Chevrolet | Indy NXT — Andretti Global |
The combination provides Foyt with two drivers who have followed different routes into the championship.
Hauger has already completed a full IndyCar season and demonstrated his ability to score points.
Pierson brings experience from both junior single-seaters and international endurance racing, but will need to adapt to competing regularly against established IndyCar drivers.
The team’s technical alliance with Team Penske provides additional support as it prepares for 2027.
That relationship has become particularly valuable ahead of the major regulation changes planned for 2028, when the new IR-28 chassis is expected to enter service.
Collet’s remaining options narrow as IndyCar grid fills
The Foyt announcement also affects the wider IndyCar driver market.
Several organisations have already completed or substantially advanced their 2027 plans.
Dale Coyne Racing remains an important team to watch, particularly because Hauger’s departure created an opportunity in its line-up.
The team recently evaluated Formula 2 contender Alex Dunne at Barber Motorsports Park.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO reported following the test, Dunne finished second-fastest in his first IndyCar outing, strengthening his position among the candidates.
Indy NXT champion Nikita Johnson has also been linked to Dale Coyne’s programme.
That creates competition for Collet, whose experience from the 2026 championship could nevertheless be valuable to a team looking for a driver familiar with IndyCar racing.
Juncos Hollinger Racing represents another potential destination.
However, neither team has confirmed Collet for 2027, and no agreement should be treated as complete before an official announcement.
For now, the Brazilian remains part of an increasingly competitive market as the number of available seats decreases.
When does the 2027 IndyCar season begin?
The 2027 IndyCar championship begins with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Florida on Sunday, March 7.
Pierson is expected to make his first championship appearance at that event.
The new season will also include IndyCar’s historic return to Europe with the Barcelona Grand Prix on July 18.
The Spanish race forms part of a particularly important year for the championship, ahead of the introduction of a new chassis in 2028.
For AJ Foyt Racing, the opening round in St. Petersburg will mark the competitive debut of its completely revised driver line-up.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following the IndyCar driver market, AJ Foyt Racing’s 2027 preparations and Caio Collet’s future with breaking news and full coverage in its IndyCar section.
