Shell and INDYCAR recently announced 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.
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.
Shell
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.
The Class 8 truck is now part of INDYCAR’s transportation system, hauling the Pennzoil Tech Inspection Trailer, which carries the specialized equipment used to inspect the cars of all INDYCAR teams during race weekends.
"INDYCAR is proud to collaborate with Shell to combine our collective passion for innovation, sustainability and competition," said J. Douglas Boles, president of INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "Using the Shell Starship truck in our logistics fleet not only helps us reduce emissions but also showcases what’s possible when high-performance meets real-world sustainability.”
“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.”
In a demonstration run, the Shell Starship 3.0 truck fully loaded and powered by Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) achieved a fuel economy of approximately 9 miles per gallon (MPG) Diesel Gallon Equivalent (DGE) and a range of approximately 890 miles.
Compared to the U.S. average for diesel class 8 trucks, the Shell Starship 3.0 was able to transport three times more freight per kilogram of COâ‚‚ emitted.
For more information about Shell Starship and Shell’s work in transport decarbonization, visit shell.com/starship.
