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Arrow McLaren Racing, a powerful name in IndyCar racing, has rapidly evolved into one of the most competitive and innovative teams on the grid. Combining McLaren’s rich Formula One heritage with the expertise of Arrow Electronics and the predecessor Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, Arrow McLaren has brought a fresh, ambitious energy to the world of American open-wheel racing. Led by McLaren CEO Zak Brown, the team is redefining what it means to compete at the highest level of IndyCar. 

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What is the history of Arrow McLaren? 

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Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (2001-2019)

Before learning about the current Arrow McLaren Racing team, the origins of the team must be told. The roots of Arrow McLaren lie in Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (SPM), a team founded by former IndyCar driver Sam Scmidt in 2001 after an accident left him paralyzed. SPM enjoyed success in IndyCar over the years, with honorable names like Simon Pagenaud and James Hinchcliffe decorating the team’s name.

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McLaren’s Involvement and Ownership (2020 - Present)

After stepping away from full-time IndyCar competition in the 1970s, McLaren made its return to the Indianapolis 500 in 2017 with Formula One driver Fernando Alonso, but it wasn’t until 2020 that the team committed to a full-time presence in the series. In 2019, it was announced McLaren would partner with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports to create Arrow McLaren SP, with Arrow Electronics as the title sponsor. This partnership combined McLaren’s global motorsport proficiency with SPM’s established IndyCar operations to create a championship-contending team. 

After acquiring a majority stake in the team in 2021, McLaren CEO, Zak Brown, was installed as chairman, and in 2023 the “SP” branding of the company was dropped. Now known as the Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team, ownership is split 75/25 by McLaren Racing and Schmidt and Peterson. 

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Arrow McLaren's Key Milestones and Achievements 

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Under McLaren’s ownership, the first full season of Arrow McLaren SP showcased the potential of the newly formed team. Patricio (Pato) O’Ward and Oliver Askew drove for the team in 2020, both securing podiums and a number of top-ten finishes. When driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet, Pato O’Ward, took his first IndyCar victory at Texas Motor Speedway in 2021, Arrow McLaren SP became the first Chevrolet powered team other than Team Penske to win an IndyCar race since 2016. O’Ward followed with another win at Detroit, helping the team finish third in the championship. 

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O’Ward and teammate Felix Rosenqvist showed out for the team’s first season under McLaren majority ownership, finishing second and fourth in the 2022 Indianapolis 500, respectively. For the 2023 Indianapolis 500, the team fielded a strong lineup of Pato O’Ward, Alexander Rossi, Felix Rosenqvist, and veteran driver Tony Kanaan. All four drivers were in contention throughout the event, with Rossi securing a top-ten finish in fifth place. In the most recent Indy 500, Arrow McLaren was a lap away from their first win at the Brickyard, when Penske driver Josef Newgarden devastatingly passed Pato O’Ward in the final lap of the race. 

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Notable Arrow McLaren Drivers and Their Contributions

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Patricio (Pato) O'Ward (2020 - Present) 

Pato has been the standout driver for Arrow McLaren since he joined the team in 2020. With seven wins and 26 podiums, O’Ward has secured the team’s position as a competitor to established IndyCar teams like Penske and Andretti. His win at the 2024 Mid-Ohio race made McLaren Racing the first to win in IndyCar’s new hybrid powertrain era. 

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Alexander Rossi (2023-2024)

Rossi had a short-lived, but impressive career at Arrow McLaren. He became an asset to Arrow McLaren’s program and standings, with consistent top-ten finishes in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons. 

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Kyle Larson (2024, Indy 500)

Kyle Larson was named the 2024 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year after attempting the “double,” competing in both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 (NASCAR) on the same day. Larson started fifth in the Indy 500, but a delayed start to the race due to rain ultimately led to him missing the start of the Coca-Cola 600. In September, it was announced that Larson will return to Arrow McLaren in 2025 to attempt the iconic challenge again.

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Who are the current Arrow McLaren Drivers and Leadership?

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CEO of McLaren: Zak Brown

CEO of McLaren, Zak Brown, oversees the entire McLaren racing organization, including its IndyCar team. He took over as chairman when McLaren purchased a 75% stake in the Arrow McLaren SP team. Previous owners Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson share a 25% stake in the company. Arrow McLaren operates the No. 5, 6, and 7 Dallara-Chevrolet cars, piloted by Pato O’Ward, Nolan Siegel, and Alexander Rossi respectively. 

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Pato O'Ward 

Driver of the No. 5, Pato O’Ward is a fan-favorite in the IndyCar series, captivating fans and competitors with his electric driving style and charismatic personality. O’Ward was the 2018 Indy Lights Champion with Andretti Autosport, and spent time after his victory bouncing between prospective IndyCar and Formula One teams. Ultimately, he landed with Arrow McLaren SP IndyCar Team. 

Since joining the series full-time with the team in 2020, the young Mexican driver has cemented himself as a leading contender in the IndyCar Championship. His aggressive, yet calculated, driving style has led him to seven IndyCar wins and 20+ podium finishes. He fought for a championship title this past season, finishing the standings in fourth place. Pato’s continuing contract with Arrow McLaren promises the team a competitive force in the 2025 season, with O’Ward focused on pushing the limits.

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Nolan Siegel

Rookie Nolan Siegel went from dominating his Indy NXT career season to signing a multi-year contract with one of the most iconic teams in racing, nearly overnight. The young 19-year-old has previously showcased his natural talent and confidence behind the wheel in his 2023 Indy NXT season with HMD Motorsports. He claimed two race wins and multiple podiums, finishing his debut season third in points. 

On March 5th, 2024, it was announced Siegel would compete part-time for Dayle Coyne Racing in the No. 18 Honda, participating in races that didn’t clash with his Indy NXT schedule. Among these was the iconic Indianapolis 500, and the rookie was eager to make his debut at the Brickyard. Unfortunately, after a damaging crash in practice left the car in bad shape and a crash on Bump Day (last-chance qualifying for the Indy 500), Siegel was not able to qualify for the 500. He returned to Indy NXT in good spirits, ready to dominate the season.

The young driver also competed in his first 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024 with United Autosports. The LMP2 car driven by Siegel, Oliver Jarvis, and Bijoy Garg won in their class, an accomplishment that stood out to McLaren CEO and United Autosports co-owner Zak Brown. Shortly after this win, it was announced that Siegel would replace Pourchaire in the No. 6 car, signing a multi-year contract with Arrow McLaren. The rookie has had continuous improvement throughout the season, with many top-20 finishes and a career-best finish in 7th at Gateway. It is evident that Siegel is one of the top young talents in IndyCar, and his strong performances make for a bright future with Arrow McLaren. 

Christian Lundgaard

The 2022 IndyCar Rookie of the Year, Christian Lundgaard, is set to drive the No. 7 Chevrolet for Arrow McLaren in 2025 and beyond. His full-time IndyCar career was established in 2022 with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Lundgaard has been a force on the track, with multiple podiums and his first IndyCar win at Toronto in 2023. His significant growth made him a stand-out to McLaren Racing. In July of 2024, Lundgaard signed a multi-year contract to continue his triumphant career with Arrow McLaren. 

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Pre-Season 2024: Palou & Malukas

For the 2024 season, Arrow McLaren had plans of Chip Ganassi driver Alex Palou replacing Felix Rosenqvist. After contract controversies and legal issues between Alex Palou, McLaren Racing, and Chip Ganassi Racing, this ultimately did not happen. David Malukas, a rising star in IndyCar, was set to be the new pilot of the No. 6 Chevrolet car. This contract also fell through when Malukas had a pre-season mountain biking accident leaving him with a broken wrist. 

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Mid-Season Stints 2024: Ilott & Pourchaire 

Drivers Callum Ilott and Theo Pourchaire would sub for Malukas in various races of the season. After Malukas’ release in late April, it was announced that Pourchaire would replace him for the remainder of the season. Because of Pourchaire’s already-made commitments in other racing series, Ilott drove in the opening race at St. Petersburg and in the 2024 Indianapolis 500, bringing home an 11th place finish for the team.  

Pourchaire had a remarkable debut in IndyCar at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, making up 11 positions and finishing in 11th place. He displayed this exceptional driving style and performance further with a top-ten finish at Detroit and top-15 finish at Road America. Contact with Juncos Hollinger driver, Agustín Canapino, at Detroit led to Pourchaire receiving abusive messages from Canapino’s fans, causing a commotion amongst the grid. Shortly after, Pourchaire was suddenly released from the team and replaced by rookie driver Nolan Siegel, the reasoning not specified.  

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Alexander Rossi

Driver of the No. 7, Alexander Rossi is an Indianapolis 500 winner and household name. Preceding his time at Arrow McLaren, Rossi spent six years with Andretti Autosport, where he won the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2016 and was named Rookie of the Year. He was a championship contender in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, with consistent performances showcasing his skills in open-wheel racing.

Rossi signed with Arrow McLaren SP for the 2023 season, joining teammates Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist. He quickly became a fan-favorite in papaya, securing a fourth-place finish in his first race of the season. His versatility on various types of circuits—ovals, street courses, and road courses—has led to his undeniable success in his two years with the team. Rossi was a competitive asset to Arrow McLaren, finishing the championship 9th in 2023 and 10th in 2024. Rossi has signed a contract with Ed Carpenter Racing for the 2025 season, and will be replaced with Christian Lundgaard. 

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Arrow McLaren’s Fallout with Juncos Hollinger Racing

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Following a social media controversy with Arrow McLaren driver Theo Pourchaire and Juncos Hollinger driver Agustin Canapino, the termination of the two teams’ strategic partnership was announced. Canapino had previously been involved in two other incidents with teammate Callum Ilott, where Canapino’s Argentine fans bombarded Ilott with harmful comments across social media platforms.  

An on-track mishap between Pourchaire and Canapino at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix this past June was the turning point in McLaren and Juncos’ relationship. Pourchaire was the victim of a social media attack, with Canapino’s fans going as far as sending death threats to the young driver. The Arrow McLaren team would not tolerate this discrimination, providing an online statement and announcement of the partnership termination in the days following the abuse.

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Arrow McLaren’s Future

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It is no secret that Arrow McLaren is becoming a dominant force in the IndyCar Series. The team’s addition of rising stars Nolan Siegel and Christian Lundgaard for the future seasons set the stage for Arrow McLaren to compete for victories and championships. The 2024 season proved Arrow McLaren’s spot among other leading contenders like Penske and Andretti, with papaya frequently seen on victory circle. The team’s partnership with Chevrolet to provide competitive engines will continue to contribute to this success, along with the team’s dedication to creating an IndyCar powerhouse.