ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Cassidy Marie was prominently docked outside Turn 10, offering an unimpeded view of the season’s inaugural IndyCar race in downtown St. Petersburg. It was early Sunday morning when Jill Gregory, Andretti Global’s new president, maneuvered through the bustling crowd to reach the yacht owned by her boss, Dan Towriss. Hosting a guest from Chili’s, an ally of Towriss’s Spire Motorsports in NASCAR, the occasion marked the team’s debut in the IndyCar Series.
Andretti Global granted an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Towriss’ leadership debut as the head of Michael Andretti’s former team, alongside Gregory’s inaugural role as the sole female team president in IndyCar. The day kicked off positively, with Andretti drivers securing the top two positions in the Indy NXT race, encouraging Towriss to skip a pre-race strategy briefing in favor of celebrating at victory lane.
Previously serving as NASCAR’s vice president and marketing officer, Gregory left to oversee Sonoma Raceway before joining TWG Motorsports — Towriss’s motorsports arm — as COO and president of the IndyCar team. Although not involved in race strategies, Gregory humorously quipped about weighing in on gear choices and tire tactics, exuding a casual confidence as she navigated her new responsibilities.
Gregory’s forte lies outside the competitive realm of motorsports, yet Towriss remains unfazed, favoring women for critical leadership roles, with ten females serving in executive positions across his TWG Motorsports ventures and five others at Group 1001, Towriss’s financial services firm managing over $66 billion. Towriss emphasized the significance of stepping in to prevent leadership voids amid changes at the team, highlighting Rob Edwards’s oversight of Andretti Global’s on-track activities while Gregory manages consumer engagement and the company’s internal operations.
Accustomed to motorsport through her NASCAR experiences, Gregory’s marketing acumen is ideal for bolstering a burgeoning team like Andretti Global. On the same day, TWG’s Wayne Taylor Racing obtained an invitation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Andretti Global revealed plans to transform the former IndyStar Pulliam Production Center in Indianapolis into their headquarters. This facility will accommodate their IndyCar, Indy NXT, and Formula E teams by summer 2025. Concurrently, preparations for Andretti Global’s Formula 1 team are underway, with Cadillac powertrains set to be assembled in North Carolina.
“Jill is a visionary executive,” Towriss noted, recognizing her foresight and team-building prowess as crucial for the organization’s strategic and cultural development. Besides the F1 and IndyCar projects, TWG Motorsports also holds significant stakes in Spire’s NASCAR team, Taylor’s IMSA sports car program, and Bathurst 1000-winning efforts in Australia’s Supercars Championship through Walkinshaw Andretti United.
Settling into her new role, Gregory focuses on streamlining operations and implementing best practices across TWG brands. Her experience in sponsorship and her enduring connections from NASCAR, including a strong alliance with Fox Sports, position her to enhance existing partnerships and explore new ventures. Currently maintaining a residence in California, she is also constructing a home in Indianapolis to stay close to the race shops.
Reflecting on her first race, where Andretti drivers finished fifth, sixth, and sixteenth, Gregory celebrated with a modest champagne toast. Recognizing the growing potential of IndyCar as a leading motorsport, she contemplated strategies to broaden its appeal: “IndyCar offers thrilling speed; the challenge is conveying that to a wider audience. The Fox partnership is key, but sustaining momentum post-season launch is equally vital.”
