Note: This continues a series of 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES team previews on INDYCAR.com from Feb. 26-March 1. The season starts Sunday, March 10 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding.
Starting Lineup: Romain Grosjean (No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet), Agustin Canapino (No. 78 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet).
2023 in Review: Callum Ilott was back for his second full-time season with Juncos Hollinger Racing. Ilott bookended the season with a pair of fifth-place finishes in the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg by RP Funding and the season-ending Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey. Between them was one top-10 finish that came in the second race of the season, at Texas Motor Speedway, with a ninth-place result. Ilott improved four positions in the final standings, climbing from 20th as a rookie in 2022 to 16th in 2023. His teammate, Canapino, was a great story as the team expanded from a one-car to a two-car unit to bring in the fellow Argentinian driver. Canapino came to the United States without knowing English or ever seeing any of these tracks. He came 34 points away from earning Rookie of the Year honors, with a best finish of 12th at St. Petersburg, Texas Motor Speedway and Toronto.
New for ’24: The organization remains a two-car outfit, but Grosjean has replaced Ilott in the No. 77 Chevrolet. This marks the third team in four seasons that Grosjean has competed for, with his last two at Andretti Global.
Keep an Eye on This: Juncos Hollinger Racing will have some papaya sprinkled on the cars this season. That’s due to forming a strategic alliance with Arrow McLaren Racing this offseason. This trend is becoming relevant in the paddock with JHR and Arrow McLaren joining the likes of Andretti Global and Meyer Shank Racing and Team Penske and AJ Foyt Racing in alliances. If this is a successful venture, expect the rise of JHR to come at a quicker rate due to association with the resources of Arrow McLaren.
Little-Known Fact: Grosjean and Juncos Hollinger Racing each have a knack for getting off to fast starts to the season. Seven of Grosjean’s 16 top-10 finishes and four of his five runner-up results in 47 career NTT INDYCAR SERIES starts have come before June. He was runner-up in the GMR Grand Prix in May 2021 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix in April 2023 at Barber Motorsports Park and each of the last two years in the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in April. JHR has five career INDYCAR SERIES top-10 finishes, three of which have occurred before June.