Arrow McLaren Primed for IndyCar Title Chase in 2026

After major facility expansion, the team looks to finally capture its first championship.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

After a successful 2025 season that saw McLaren's Formula 1 team win the constructor's title and driver's championship, the company's IndyCar operation is also poised for a breakthrough year in 2026. The team has completed construction on a new 86,000 square foot headquarters in Zionsville, Indiana, giving them significantly 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, Arrow McLaren is confident it can finally capture its first IndyCar title this year.

Why it matters

McLaren's IndyCar program has long been overshadowed by the success of its Formula 1 efforts, but the team's investment in a new state-of-the-art facility signals its commitment to challenging for championships in America's top open-wheel series. After years of steady progress, the team believes it now has the people, resources, and driver lineup to compete with powerhouses like Ganassi and Penske.

The details

The new 86,000 square foot headquarters in Zionsville, Indiana is nearly three times the size of the team's previous facility. This allows for an expanded machine shop, allowing the team to design and build parts in-house much faster than before. The building also features an on-site gym to keep staff engaged and on campus. Team principal Tony Kanaan says the new space puts Arrow McLaren on par with the top IndyCar teams in terms of infrastructure.

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

The players

Arrow McLaren

The IndyCar team owned by the McLaren Racing organization, which also fields entries in Formula 1 and sports car racing.

Tony Kanaan

The team principal of Arrow McLaren and a former Indianapolis 500 winner as a driver.

Pato O'Ward

The lead driver for Arrow McLaren, who has won 8 IndyCar races in his career so far.

Christian Lundgaard

The newest driver signed by Arrow McLaren, who finished in the top 5 of the 2025 IndyCar championship.

Zak Brown

The CEO of McLaren Racing, overseeing the company's various motorsports programs including IndyCar.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

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, Arrow McLaren (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, Driver, Arrow McLaren (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, CEO, McLaren Racing (Road & Track)

What’s next

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

The takeaway

After years of steady progress, McLaren's IndyCar program is poised to challenge the series' established powerhouses in 2026 thanks to a major facility expansion and an experienced driver lineup. The team's commitment to building world-class infrastructure signals its intent to finally capture the elusive IndyCar title that has long eluded the iconic motorsports brand.