The realignments announced by each team yesterday make a bit more sense.
From Juncos Hollinger Racing:
Tuesday 3 October – Juncos Hollinger Racing today announced its plans to enter a strategic alliance with Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team to benefit both teams.
The alliance may evolve over time, beginning with a commercial and strategic focus, working together to grow their respective propositions. The teams, both powered by Team Chevy, will also consider this alliance as a talent development opportunity, with the potential for engineers, mechanics and drivers to build their experience. The strategic relationship will be mutually beneficial to extract the strengths of both teams and will be in effect for the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. Gavin Ward, Team Principal, Arrow McLaren said: “We’re continually working to strengthen all areas of our team, and a strategic alliance with Juncos Hollinger Racing helps both of us in leveraging our commercial and marketing power and the McLaren Racing brand in a new way.” Ricardo Juncos, President and Co-Owner, Juncos Hollinger Racing said: “Our two teams have a lot of similarities in how we’re attracting partners and building a fanbase. We’re starting out with a strategic alliance and we’ll see how that may evolve from here.” Brad Hollinger, Co-Owner, Juncos Hollinger Racing said: “We believe our alliance will enable us to accelerate our progress while also benefiting McLaren with commercial and talent development opportunities.”
About McLaren Racing:McLaren Racing was founded by racing driver Bruce McLaren 60 years ago in 1963. The team entered its first Formula 1 race in 1966. McLaren has since won 20 Formula 1 world championships, 183 Formula 1 grands prix, the Indianapolis 500 three times, and the Le Mans 24 Hours at its first attempt. McLaren Racing competes across five racing series. The team competes in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship with McLaren F1 drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES with Arrow McLaren drivers Pato O’Ward, Alexander Rossi and David Malukas, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with NEOM McLaren Formula E Team drivers Jake Hughes and Sam Bird, and the Extreme E Championship with NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team drivers Emma Gilmour and Tanner Foust. The team also competes in the F1 Esports Pro Championship as McLaren Shadow, having won the 2022 Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships. McLaren is a champion for sustainability in the sport and a signatory to the UN Sports for Climate Action Commitment. It is committed to achieving net zero by 2040 and fostering a diverse and inclusive culture in the motorsport industry.
In one of the biggest non surprises of the week, David Malukas signed a multi year deal to drive for Arrow McLaren. The 22 year old driver will drive car number6, driven the last two seasons by Felix Rosenquist.
Malukas will complete his second year in Indycar Sunday deriving for Dale Cayne Racing with HMD Motorsports. His best finish in the series was a second place at World Wide Technology Raceway in 2022. He finished third at the track in August. Malukas also has several top 5s in the series.
The press release from Arrow McLaren:
“I can’t wait to race in papaya next season”
Arrow McLaren today announced that David Malukas has signed a multiyear deal with the team ahead of the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.
The 21-year-old American-Lithuanian driver is one of the youngest in the paddock and has shown speed and potential over his first two seasons in the series with two podium finishes for Dale Coyne Racing with HMD.
David, a multi-time karting champion, came to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES through INDY NXT, where he finished second in 2021 with a series record of 16 podiums.
David will join Arrow McLaren drivers Pato O’Ward and Alexander Rossi in the team’s lineup and will race the No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet for team partners NTT DATA, onsemi and SmartStop.
David Malukas, 2024 Arrow McLaren Driver, said:
“I can’t wait to race in papaya next season. Arrow McLaren has been a threat to the top contenders all season long, and I’m excited to join the team and see what their Chevrolets can do. Pato and Alexander both know what it takes to win, so it will be fun racing alongside them and learning from them as well.”
Gavin Ward, Racing Director, Arrow McLaren:
“We’ve been extremely impressed with how quickly David has gotten up to speed in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. At 21, he’s already one of the strongest oval racers in the field and his competitiveness on road and street courses has been steadily improving. That speed combined with an excellent attitude and work ethic makes us thrilled to have him join the team.”
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing:
“David is an up and comer in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and based on what we’ve seen from him so far in his first two seasons, I’m confident there’s a lot of talent we can extract from him through the resources we have at Arrow McLaren. Beyond what he can do on a racetrack, he’s got a great personality and we’re excited to welcome him to the McLaren Racing family.”
Alexander Rossi’s car for the Indianapolis 500 will look sinmilar to the 1974 500 winner
Arrow McLaren announced today that on Friday, April14, they will unveil special liveries for their three full time cars for the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500. The lib=veries represent the McLaren cars that won racing’s Triple Crown- Indianapolis, Monaco, and LeMans.
Some fans have asked for an Indycar throwback race. I think the 500 would be the perfect venue for this. The car of Alexander Rossi will replicate the 1974 Indianapolis 500 winning McLaren of Johnny Rutherford. While not a 500 throwback, Felix Rosenqvist’s car will resemble the Penske Matlboro cars as it represents Alain Prost’s 1984 Monaco winner.
The full text of Arrow mcLaren’s release:
“In our 60th year, we are shining a light on the legacy of the team Bruce built”
McLaren Racing today announced a special livery series for Arrow McLaren in the 2023 Indianapolis 500, celebrating the team’s historic Triple Crown accolade as part of its 60th anniversary.
The livery series will be unveiled at an open event for fans and media at the Lifestyle Expo at the Grand Prix of Long Beach on Friday 14 April.
Widely considered the greatest accomplishment in racing, the Triple Crown is achieved through winning the three most prestigious races in motorsport: the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indy 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. McLaren’s Triple Crown is comprised of victories at the Indy 500 in 1974 with Johnny Rutherford, the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix with Alain Prost, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995 with JJ Lehto, Yannick Dalmas and Masanori Sekiya.
For the 107th Running of the Indy 500 in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Arrow McLaren, with the support of Arrow Electronics, NTT DATA and SmartStop, will field four Chevrolets, each carrying a unique commemorative livery. Three of these will represent the individual race wins from McLaren’s Triple Crown, and one will reflect the collective achievement.
The livery series forms a part of McLaren’s 60th birthday celebrations in 2023, honoring iconic moments throughout its history, celebrating some of the team’s greatest achievements and the proud legacy built by team founder Bruce McLaren.
For the April 20-21 IMS Open Test and Indy 500 practice rounds, qualifying and the iconic race itself at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet piloted by Pato O’Ward will run in an all-black livery in tribute to the F1 GTR that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans on McLaren’s first attempt.
The No. 6 NTT DATA Arrow McLaren Chevrolet piloted by Felix Rosenqvist will carry a representation of the iconic MP4/2 livery, in which Alain Prost earned McLaren’s inaugural Monaco Grand Prix victory.
Alexander Rossi’s No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet will race in full papaya to commemorate the M16C/D in which Johnny Rutherford claimed McLaren’s maiden Indy 500 victory in 1974.
The liveries for the No. 5, No. 6 and No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolets will be unveiled at an open event for fans and media at the Lifestyle Expo, Friday 14 April at 09:00am PST, ahead of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. The reveal will be attended by McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, Arrow McLaren Racing Director Gavin Ward, and Arrow McLaren drivers Pato O’Ward, Felix Rosenqvist and Alexander Rossi. Tony Kanaan, who will pilot the team’s fourth car entry for the Indy 500, will emcee the Long Beach event.
Earlier this year, Tony announced that this will be his last ever Indy 500. Tony’s No. 66 SmartStop Arrow McLaren Chevrolet livery will be unveiled ahead of the April Open Test date. This car will be inspired by the collective achievement that is the Triple Crown.
Further celebrations will be revealed throughout the Month of May across McLaren’s other race series to commemorate the prestigious Triple Crown achievement.
Fans will be able to join the team in celebrating the campaign with limited-edition Triple Crown merchandise, with select pieces available for purchase onsite in Long Beach. The collection will also be available online from the McLaren Store in May, and on-site at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway through the Indy 500 race week. The special range will feature collaborations with popular brands Mitchell & Ness, New Era and Castore, with items including caps, jerseys and hoodies in the bespoke Triple Crown style.
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said:
“We are proud to have achieved motorsport’s prestigious Triple Crown as a constructor. In our 60th year, we are shining a light on the legacy of the team that Bruce McLaren built and role this plays in fueling our ambitions for the future of the team.
“As a life-long McLaren fan, I fondly remember watching Alain Prost’s dramatic 1984 Monaco victory and the incredible moment when the team conquered Le Mans on its debut entry. Meanwhile Johnny Rutherford’s first Indy 500 win in papaya is one of the most important moments in McLaren Racing history. I can’t wait to see our four-car, star-studded lineup flying the colors of our Triple Crown victories at this year’s Indy 500.”
Gavin Ward, Racing Director, Arrow McLaren, said:
“I like to encourage the team, every time they pull on a Papaya race shirt, to think about the incredible achievements of this team and what it means to play our part in adding to that rich history. That significance will be even greater in May when we roll our cars to the grid for the Indianapolis 500 with these stunning liveries honoring McLaren Racing’s Triple Crown legacy.”
Alexander Rossi is happy with his move to Arrow McLaren for 2023. The 2016 Indianapolis 500 spent his first seven Indycar seasons with Andretti Autosport before signing with Arrow McLaren in early June last year. This morning Rossi said there is still a learning curve not only for him, but also for all the new personnel McLaren is bringing in. He thinks he will get a better idea of the differences between his old and new team after the race,.
“It’s hard to say immediately because we’ve got a race weekend.” Rossi said. “You know, there’s just a lot of obvious structure that exists in an organization from top to bottom. And I’m sure a lot of it comes from, you know, the overarching brand, getting out and about doing things and running race teams. You know, like, there’s pros and cons that are two ways you go about it, you can run them and be like, Oh, I kind of want to vice versa. So there are some some differences that can ultimately be successful if you have anything else. It’s been nice to see areas that they are different in various matters.”
Rossi explained that hisn transition was a little more challengin vecause McLaren hired 40 new people during the off season to accomodate the third car.
” Because we had so many new people in general, like everyone just kind of going through a process. It is challenging in terms of the actual application, being easy to get to work doing what we need to in our condensed timeframe.”
Rossi’s biggest concern this weekend? Driving into the pit of his former team.”This weekend my pit box is right in front of my old 27, so I’m just like please do not drive into that one. So that’s my only concern. It’s pretty easy now to think that you know, the seven car driver tweeted at me like I had to read it a couple of times because I was like, Am I allowed to say this? I mean, it’s been everyone’s been super welcoming.”
Rossi said it was sad to leave his old team after seven tears.
“But you know, I still I’m still very close with Jeremy and Scott and obviously, I’m still in communication with them. So I don’t feel like a whole life changing. ”
Rossi is ot changing his driving approiach with his new team.
“I’m just going out and execute,” he said.
The difference between the Chevroley and Honda engines surprised him.
“I was surprised that engines with basically the same architecture could be that different. They are very different in the way they make power and deliver it. It took some gettinmg used to,” he said.
Alexander Rossi left a formerly elite team that has struggled recently to join a team that is on the verge of joining the top of the grid. I look for have some struggles early, but by Road America Rossi should return to his championship form.
Tony Kanaan admits that if he hadn’t finished third in the 2022 Indianapolis 500, he probably wouldn’t be talking about his final race coming up in May. Kanaan announced yesterday that the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500 would be his final IndyCar race. The Brazilian driver has driven in Indycar/Champ Car since 1998.
How does a driver know it’s time to step aside?
“You don’t,” Kanaan said. “You’re never ready for this. But you got to weigh your options. I went from a full-time to a part-time. You’re 48. You had a great career. As much as you don’t want to go, it’s there. If you’re smart, you make the right decisions at the right time.”
Kanaan in the 500 has a win in 2013, a pole, nine top five finishes and 12 top 10s. In 2011 he started 33rd and passed 10 cars by the time the field reached the backstretch at the start. Only a caution flag prevented him from picking off a couple more cars. He led in each of his first seven 500s.
Kanaan after his popular win in 2013
He has 17 wins in Indycar racing14 poles, and 79 podiums. In winning the championship in 2004, Kanaan completed every lap of the season.
Kanaan and his Arrow McLaren team also announced a sponsor, SmartStop, a storage company, and the car number for Kanaan’s last ride, 66. The number has significance for the team and driver. His 318 consecutive starts is still the record.
“No. 66. Bruce McLaren and McLaren won their first race in 1966 Mark Donohue was here in ’72. My first go-kart number was No. 6. I picked that. My entire go-kart career, I won five championships with that number. One of the races that I couldn’t race the 6, I raced 66. When Zak told me the story, the number, it’s just perfect. That’s what we’re banking on,” Kanaan explained.
Kanaan has never been one to hide his feelings. Asked about how emotional Race Day will be, he said, “End of May, I think it’s going to get more difficult from now on. I’m at peace in my decision. I have a great team behind me. I think I had a great career. I have a really good shot of winning this thing. If I win, might be sitting here again next year. You never know.”
How will he fill his time after May?
“I’m probably going to come and bug Mark Miles and his team and Jay Frye here. I live five, ten minutes from here. Anything I can do? Can I warm the Corvette up? The Corvette needs a ride. Hey, Doug…”
Would he consider team ownership? It doesn’t sound likely.
“I actually own an eSports team that gives me the feeling I don’t know if I really want to own a real team ever. You never know. I mean, I love racing. I love challenges. If the opportunity presents, 100%. I know for a fact my wife will not let me spend any of my money, our money – her money, sorry – in a race team. But if the opportunity presents, I’ll consider. Anything that is involved in racing and INDYCAR, I’ll be willing to consider, for sure.”
Arrow Mclaren has revealed liveries for cars number six and seven. You need to look closely to tell them apart.
Alexander Rossi’s number 7 has light blue trim while thesix car that Felix Rosenqvist will drive has a darker shade of blue. The cars both retain the papaya orange as the contrasting color.
Both cars are shown with the cr number in blue. The team may change the number decal back to black for visibility. I’m not sur how the blue will show up in bright sunlight. I really like the blue numbers.
Rossi’s car has more a Gulf livery feel to it. Gulf is one of my favorite liveries in the history of racing.
Alexander Rossi’s car has the traditional McLaren look..Felix Rosenqvist has the darker NTT shade of blue. The blue crown on the aeroscreen will help fans tell the two cars apart.
I assume Pato O’Ward’s car, the number five, will be revealed tomorrow. I hope it has a different look than these two..
I will be En route to Daytona for the Rolex 24 tomorrow. I will have reports when I can get to a WiFi spot, or from my phone.
When you sit down to write a news story and a bigger one pops up- that’s what just happened. The driver fans have clamored for will finallyt get his shot at the Indianapolis 5009. I will have more to sya on this later, but for now here is the press release from Arrow McLaren.
KYLE LARSON TO JOIN McLAREN RACING FOR THE 2024 INDIANAPOLIS 500
Partnership between McLaren and Rick Hendrick to field the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion
Champion driver Kyle Larson will join McLaren Racing for the 2024 Indianapolis 500, adding to Arrow McLaren’s star-studded lineup for the “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Kyle’s Chevrolet will be co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Rick Hendrick and carry title partnership from HendrickCars.com. Rick is the chairman and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group and the owner of 14-time NASCAR Cup Series champions Hendrick Motorsports, which Kyle has driven for since 2021.
Additional details, including car number and livery for the HendrickCars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, will be announced at a later date.
Kyle, 30, has proven success at the elite NASCAR Cup Series level where he won the 2021 series title, 19 points-paying races, the 2019 and 2021 NASCAR All-Star Race, and the 2014 Sunoco Rookie of the Year award. In his 2021 championship campaign, the Elk Grove, California, native won 10 points races and led more laps in a single season (2,581) than any driver since 1995.
In partnership with McLaren Racing, the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 will mark the first event as an NTT INDYCAR SERIES owner for Rick, whose stock-car teams have won an all-time record 291 points-paying Cup Series races. He is also NASCAR’s winningest owner at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with 10 Cup victories on the storied 2.5-mile oval.
Entering his 12th season in the NASCAR Cup Series and third with Hendrick Motorsports in the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, Kyle has consistently expressed interest to race the Indy 500 with Team Chevy. Arrow McLaren, with an opening in its 2024 lineup, seeks to have him at the front of the grid.
Pending additional 2023 entries, Kyle would become just the fifth driver to run “The Double” on Memorial Day weekend by racing in the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. His double would be the first since Kurt Busch raced in both events in 2014.
Widely regarded as a world-class talent, Kyle has a broad resume of auto racing success with more than 400 career wins in a variety of disciplines and types of vehicles on dirt and pavement. His versatility and experience complements McLaren Racing’s investment, strategy and competition in different racing series.
Kyle joins a list of other notable names to run for Arrow McLaren in the Indy 500, including two-time race winner Juan Pablo Montoya, two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso and 2013 race winner Tony Kanaan, who joins the team of Pato O’Ward, Felix Rosenqvist and Alexander Rossi (2016 winner) for the Indy 500 for the 2023 season.
Kyle Larson, Driver, said:
“I’m super excited. Competing at the Indianapolis 500 is a dream of mine and something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time – since I was a child before I ever began competing in sprint cars. To do it with McLaren Racing and Mr. Hendrick especially is a dream come true. I’m grateful for the opportunity and am really looking forward to it even though it’s still about a year-and-a-half away. I’m really looking forward to competing in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 and maybe even get a win or two that day.”
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said:
“Adding Kyle Larson with a HendrickCars.com partnership to the Indy 500 lineup in 2024 is exciting for our Arrow McLaren team as well as for race fans. He’s a complete driver, known for racing anything on wheels, so I’m looking forward to seeing what Kyle can do in an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car. It’s been great working with Rick Hendrick and (Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman) Jeff Gordon to pull this together, so a big thank you to them for what’s to come in May 2024.”
Rick Hendrick, Chairman/CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group and owner of Hendrick Motorsports, said:
“Having the opportunity to support Kyle, partner with an elite team like Arrow McLaren and promote HendrickCars.com in one of the world’s great auto racing events is truly unique. All of us are competitors. Putting Kyle in top-level equipment and allowing ample time for him to prepare for such a difficult challenge was important. It’s going to be very, very special to field a Chevrolet in the Indy 500 as a car owner. A collaboration like this was what we needed to make it happen, and fortunately the stars aligned. We’re 100% committed to doing it right and look forward to working with Zak and his organization.”
Gavin Ward, Racing Director, Arrow McLaren, said:
“Kyle’s ability and desire to compete across so many disciplines of motor racing is as rare today as it is refreshing. He’s one of the best dirt track racers on the planet. He’s a NASCAR Cup champion. He’s won a Rolex 24 at Daytona. He’s an incredibly talented driver and has shown his ability to win no matter what he’s racing. I can’t think of a more exciting addition to Arrow McLaren’s 2024 Indy 500 lineup. We’re all racers on this team, and we’re going to give it everything to make sure this endeavour is as successful as possible.” Previous
Anyone who didn’t expect Arrow McLaren SP to eventually become simply Arrow Mclaren was kidding themselves. The name change was inevitable. The Arrow McLaren name, effective for the 2023 Indycar season, reflects the changes in the team since McLaten came on board in 2020.
The team founded by Sam Schmidt has now undergone six name changes since sam Schmidt Motorsports began competing in 2001. Fo 2012 the team was Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports, then Schmidt Peterson in 2014, Arrow Schmidt Peterson followed in 2019, Arrow McLaren SP in 2020, and now Arrow McLaren.
Schmidt and the Arrow ca her has driven with mouth and head controls
I understand that Sam Scmidt and Rick Peterson’s roles with the team will remain unchanged. I find it sad that Schmidt’s name will no longer be on a car in some fashion.
Sam Schmidt has put a lot into Indycar. After the accident in Texas which paralyzed him, he began his own team and also had a large presence in Indy lights. His cars won two poles at the Indianapolis 500, with Alex Tagliani and James Hinchcliffe. Schmidt also had an ownership stake in Dan Wheldon’s 11 Indianapolis victory.
Schmidt has done a lot of work helping others who have become paralyzed.
Times do change, and names move on. I think Schmidt still has a lot to co0ntribute to Indycar, and I wish there wer4e some way he could still be recognized on a car.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 