Arrow McLaren Poised for IndyCar Title Push in 2026

New headquarters and expanded resources have the team primed to challenge IndyCar's elite.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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After a successful 2025 season that saw McLaren's Formula 1 team win the constructor's title and driver's championship, the focus now shifts to the company's IndyCar operation. Arrow McLaren has completed construction on a new 86,000 square foot headquarters in Zionsville, Indiana, giving the team more space and resources to compete with IndyCar's top teams. With drivers Pato O'Ward and Christian Lundgaard both finishing in the top five in points last season, the team is optimistic about its chances of capturing its first IndyCar title in 2026.

Why it matters

McLaren's return to prominence in Formula 1 has been well-documented, but the company's IndyCar efforts have lagged behind. The new state-of-the-art facility in Zionsville signals a renewed commitment to the series, and with top-tier drivers and leadership in place, Arrow McLaren is poised to challenge perennial powerhouses like Ganassi and Penske for the IndyCar championship.

The details

The new 86,000 square foot headquarters in Zionsville is nearly three times the size of Arrow McLaren's previous facility, providing more space for critical functions like an in-house machine shop. This will allow the team to design, manufacture, and install new parts much more quickly. The building also features an on-site gym to keep staff engaged and on campus. While the new digs won't automatically translate to more wins, team principal Tony Kanaan believes the improved infrastructure puts Arrow McLaren on par with the top IndyCar teams.

  • Arrow McLaren completed construction on the new Zionsville headquarters just last week.
  • The 2026 IndyCar season kicks off on March 1st in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The players

Tony Kanaan

Arrow McLaren's team principal and an Indianapolis 500 winner.

Pato O'Ward

Arrow McLaren's lead driver, the only driver to have won for the team so far.

Christian Lundgaard

Arrow McLaren's new driver signing, who finished in the top five in the 2025 IndyCar championship.

Zak Brown

The executive leading McLaren's racing program, which now spans Formula 1, IndyCar, and soon, sports car racing.

Kevin Thimjon

The president of Arrow McLaren, previously the CMO and CFO at Zak Brown's marketing firm JMI.

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What they’re saying

“Just because we have a nice building, we're not going to win more or less races. That is never the case. I think infrastructure-wise, we're on par with the teams that we're going to fight.”

— Tony Kanaan, Team Principal (Road & Track)

“The small group that this was five years ago is still very present. There has just been a big addition with new faces, new people, with the intention and goal to expand, get better, and improve every area as much as we can.”

— Pato O'Ward (Road & Track)

“If I look at the leadership that we had when we got started and where we are today, [the difference is] night and day. If you look at the Indy 500 wins and championships, starting with Kanaan and Kevin Thimjon, our president who used to be CMO and CFO at [Brown's long-time marketing business] JMI.”

— Zak Brown, Executive (Road & Track)

What’s next

The 2026 IndyCar season kicks off on March 1st in St. Petersburg, Florida, where Pato O'Ward, Christian Lundgaard, and the rest of the Arrow McLaren team will begin their hunt for the championship.

The takeaway

With a new state-of-the-art headquarters, an experienced leadership team, and a talented driver lineup, Arrow McLaren is finally positioned to challenge IndyCar's elite teams for the championship in 2026 after years of steady progress.