Chip Ganassi Racing Staff Shifts Amid Contract Year
Key personnel updates have emerged at Chip Ganassi Racing as performance director Chris Simmons enters a contract year.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Motorsports
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Chip Ganassi Racing has seen significant staff departures following the 2026 racing season. Performance director Chris Simmons is currently in a contract year, while race engineer Ross Bunnell has officially left the organization.
Why it matters
The departure of veteran staff and potential movement of key leadership signal a major shift in the competitive structure of IndyCar teams. These changes occur as organizations look to secure top talent for future seasons.
Chip Ganassi Racing has secured six IndyCar titles since 2019, including a championship in 2020. Ross Bunnell, who recently departed, claimed an Indianapolis 500 victory in May 2026.
The players
Chris Simmons
He is the current performance director for Chip Ganassi Racing who oversees all racing assessments.
Ross Bunnell
He is a race engineer who previously worked with drivers Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist.
Chip Ganassi Racing
It is a prominent IndyCar racing team based in Indianapolis that has won multiple championships.
Arrow McLaren
It is an IndyCar team reported to be a potential destination for departing engineering staff.
The details
Chris Simmons has served as the performance director since 2019, a role created specifically to oversee team-wide racing assessments. The exit of Ross Bunnell, a former engineer for drivers Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist, marks a notable transition for the team's engineering department.
Timeline
2019: Chip Ganassi created the performance director role for Chris Simmons.
2020: Chip Ganassi Racing won the IndyCar championship.
May 2026: Ross Bunnell achieved a victory at the Indianapolis 500.
September 2026: Staff changes were confirmed at Chip Ganassi Racing.
Season Trajectory
These personnel shifts mark a major departure from the team's established structure that secured the 2020 IndyCar championship. The exodus of key engineering talent creates uncertainty for the team's competitive balance against rivals like Arrow McLaren.
The departure of a race engineer who previously supported top-tier drivers like Scott Dixon directly affects the team's future performance metrics. These roster changes may alter team dynamics and engineering reliability for upcoming races.
The takeaway
Maintaining top-tier engineering talent remains the primary challenge for IndyCar teams seeking to sustain championship-level performance. Fans should track upcoming team announcements as these departures will likely reshape the grid for next season.
Further reading
For more on the latest changes in the circuit, visit Motorsports.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RACER.
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