McLaren to enter IndyCar full-time in 2020

McLaren has announced it will enter the IndyCar Series on a full-time basis from 2020, having formed a partnership with Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.

The British squad, which last competed full-time in IndyCar in 1979, will field two Chevrolet-powered cars and will be renamed Arrow McLaren Racing SP, having contested in the 2017 and 2019 Indianapolis 500 with Fernando Alonso in one-off entries.

McLaren sporting director Gil de Ferran will head up the programme with members of a dedicated IndyCar team that is independent from its Formula 1 operation.

Arrow SPM co-founders Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson continue in their current roles.

“IndyCar has been part of McLaren since our early years of racing, and the series today provides not only a commercial platform to continue to grow our brand in North America, but competition with some of the best teams in international motorsport,” said McLaren CEO Zak Brown.

“This team provides McLaren with the right synergy as a strategic partner for our return to the sport. We believe together we can help each other achieve our mutual ambitions. Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson have built a solid foundation and we look forward to working together to take the team to the next level.

“I’m absolutely delighted that we will expand our relationship with Arrow Electronics across both F1 and IndyCar, while renewing our long affinity with Chevrolet as our engine partner. McLaren and Chevrolet have a special history together in North America and it is fitting they are part of our full-time return to IndyCar.

“We come to IndyCar in full respect of the sport, our competitors, the fans and the task ahead. At our core, we at McLaren are racers and where there’s competition that puts us to the test, we will race. The NTT IndyCar Series provides such a challenge.”

de Ferran added: “IndyCar is a natural fit for McLaren, given our legacy and determination to succeed at the top levels of international motorsport.

“Our ambition, over time, is to consistently compete for wins and championships. We acknowledge the challenge ahead of us but McLaren is committed to this partnership and to supporting the team as a whole.”

SPM has requested to be released from its 2020 engine supply deal with Honda as a result of the new collaboration with McLaren and Chevrolet.

“HPD is proud of its numerous accomplishments in partnership with Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, which include all seven of the team’s NTT IndyCar Series victories to date, as well as two coveted pole positions for the Indianapolis 500,” a Honda statement read.

“Although we regret that this partnership will be coming to an end in advance of the 2020 season, HPD has the utmost confidence in the strength and commitment of its remaining partner teams, all of whom have won at least one NTT IndyCar Series race in each of the past two seasons.

“We look forward to demonstrating that same type of depth across our entire lineup for many years to come.”