Arrow Electronics has renewed its multi-year contract with the McLaren SP IndyCar Series team, and McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown says his former F1 racing driver Stoffel Vandoorne is a possible driver for the expansion to a third car as early as next season.
It was confirmed on Sunday morning that Arrow will continue to be the title sponsor of the IndyCar team and a partner of McLaren’s F1 team. The renewal is a key element in the IndyCar team’s expansion, confirmed last month when McLaren Racing acquired a 75 percent stake, and its third car will be full-time in 2023 but could be released by the middle of next season.
“As soon as we get a third car, if that is not the beginning of the year, we will drive a third car [fulltime]”Said Braun. “We won’t go in and out, once we go, we’ll go.
“Of course we’ll be driving a third car in 2023, maybe we’ll bring that out sometime in ’22. Whenever that may be, we don’t have that in mind yet. “
The team has confirmed that Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist will continue their rides for the next season and are currently looking for a third rider as part of a long-term strategy in America’s premier open wheel series. AMSP drove a third car for Juan Pablo Montoya in Indianapolis in May while another ex-McLaren F1 driver Kevin Magnussen replaced the injured Rosenqvist at Road America.
“A lot is driver dependent,” added Brown. “If I can’t find a driver who I think has championship quality, then we won’t just bring a third car on the market. I want someone who can sit in a car for five years to at least have this opportunity.
“Juan did a great job at Indy so I would love to run him again [at Indianapolis], but whoever that third driver is, it’s someone I’d want to see in our car for five years.
When asked by Motorsport.com whether Mercedes Formula E racing driver Vandoorne – who is in the paddock in Laguna Seca this weekend – would be a match, Brown replied: “Stoffel would definitely be considered. I think he’s a very good racing driver. “
Brown added that the timing of the third car would totally depend on finding the right driver: “It depends where we are two or three and we’re not sure then it could be two or three driver duties. A bit like Rahal did [with the #45 entry]. It depends on where we get to with the drivers. “
Kevin Magnussen, Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet
Photo by: Art Fleischmann
Long-term extension of Arrow’s partnership
Brown said the Arrow renewal “is a great reflection of the strong relationship we have built since 2019 and the productivity of our partnership. Our partnership will be further strengthened as we move forward on our common path and our common ambitions to win together ”.
Arrow has been a partner of Sam Schmidt’s IndyCar outfit since 2015 and Schmidt said: “The whole team is looking forward to our future trip with Arrow Electronics. I am delighted that you will continue to be an important part of this team as we take the next steps towards regular competitions for victories and championships. “
Arrow President and CEO Mike Long added, “Arrow Electronics is committed to innovating in automotive and transportation technology. Our engineers work side by side with the racing team and we couldn’t be happier with the strong position of our teams in both IndyCar and Formula 1. “
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