Translating the Chili Bowl’s lessons into Santino Ferrucci’s sensational IndyCar season

Santino Ferrucci‘s skill set has noticeably evolved in the last few years, and it’s not just owed to his time in the IndyCar series, or even overseas. The 26-year-old will tell you his offseason pursuits on dirt have really broadened his abilities, which translated into some incredible fights to top finishes in the 2024 season. It’s that progression that continues to entice the young driver to return to the Chili Bowl Nationals. 

Running for its 39th year, the most renowned event in all of midget car racing blends the the best from the USAC (United States Auto Club) scene with NASCAR Cup Series stars like past Chili Bowl winners Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson, with Ferrucci the lone full-time IndyCar representative. Ferrucci is making his fifth appearance in the event, this time in the No. 16 entry with Abacus Racing. Katherine Legge, who made seven IndyCar starts last year with Dale Coyne Racing, is making her Chili Bowl debut as Ferrucci’s teammate in the No. 12 entry. 

A strong relationship with Webco Engineering helped bring Ferrucci back to the 0.25-mile dirt track located inside the Tulsa Expo Center. And from a novice to the racing discipline in 2020 to now, a lot has changed, and that was evident during Sunday’s practice.

“According to last practice, pretty damn good,” Ferrucci told Motorsport.com. “We were able to throw a slider, which is nice. Honestly, the racing here really helped me in Milwaukee; we executed the most passes in IndyCar for the year. So, that definitely has some relationship to this, and understanding the racetrack dynamics and where to find the grip. But, as a driver, I get better every time I come. I have goals that I want to hit here and I haven’t hit any of them yet, so just keep on pushing.”

At The Milwaukee Mile, Ferrucci started Race 1 of the doubleheader in 19th, aggressively passing his way up to fourth by the checkered flag, while in Race 2, he went from 12th to fourth. 

“Well, like passing here, for example, when you watch how all the top guys are throwing a slider, you drive it in really hard and you kind of back it up into the line,” Ferrucci said. “You do the same thing in Milwaukee. It’s why we were able to pass so many cars. It’s also why (Conor) Daly was able to pass so many cars. We both have raced here, we both ran NASCAR, so we both understand that type of racing versus the rest of the IndyCar grid has not, so you didn’t see as much racing or passing like what we were doing, throwing it in and making it stick. And that has attributes. 

“Also, I don’t feel like you see a lot of drivers coming down here because safety here is not the (Rolex) 24 or an Indy car or a winged Sprint car. That, or they might think of this as a less-than-sport and I don’t know the last time the Indy 500 had 365 entries.”

And this year, entries are up to 390.

“That’s my point,” Ferrucci remarked. “So, I mean, you’re dwindling it down to your best 24 at the end of the week. It’s probably the most competitive grid that you can be in all year. It’s not going to be the tightest sometimes because you’re also on an 11-second lap. You go to a track like Portland or even look at the grid for Milwaukee qualifying, everybody’s within a mile-an-hour-and-a-half or something, but there’s only 27 cars. I can’t try qualifying at Milwaukee with 50 or 55, so it just changes the game. And it’s a humbling experience and I like coming here.”

Fresh off a career-best ninth in the IndyCar championship standings last year, Ferrucci needed something to scratch the racing itch over a long offseason. While many others choose the 24 Hours of Daytona (Rolex), he prefers the casual concept the week-long Chili Bowl provides. It isn’t to say he isn’t interested in participating in IMSA’s endurance classic at Daytona, but there’s always a clash.

“I would love to run the Rolex, it just conflicts with here and I like coming here,” he said. “It’s a very different type of racing. The Rolex, from what I’ve learned, it’s a very BoP (Balance of Performance), very ‘Who is on your team, which driver, what’s this?’ I don’t know. It sounds fun to compete, to do, if you’re going be in to win in one of the top classes or having fun in the winter to run. But, here it’s kind of like every man for themselve free-for-all. Something about doing a completely different discipline of motor racing is just always fun in the winter.”

For Ferrucci, who has a best finish of 10th in B2 on his preliminary night (twice – 2021, 2023), will try to better that when he runs this Friday. Additionally, though, his mentality is to maximize his potential on the biggest stage on Saturday night. If he were to do that, it would no doubt be a welcomed birthday present for his IndyCar boss, legendary four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt, who turns 90 on Tuesday and recorded 20 Midget feature victories during the early 1950s.

“I definitely want to make it to the A-Main,” said Ferrucci, who has finished as high as sixth in the G-Main (2023). “I definitely think the equipment is good enough. I definitely think I am good enough now with the experience that I have. … what I can find in practice, I actually haven’t been this comfortable in a Midget… about two years ago I was about this comfortable and we did really, really well. Last year, I wasn’t as comfy. This year, I’m really comfortable again.”