As the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season looms with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 1st, Arrow McLaren arrives as a rising force with momentum, ambition, and a driver lineup blending proven contenders and emerging talent.
The team, under the stewardship of Team Principal Tony Kanaan and full ownership by McLaren Racing, has steadily built into one of the sport’s most compelling outfits. Highlighted by a striking 2025 championship result and strengthened infrastructure including a new state-of-the-art facility in Indianapolis, Arrow McLaren enters 2026 with sights set on both race wins and championship contention.
Review of 2025
The 2025 campaign marked a breakout year for Arrow McLaren. Pato O’Ward delivered a career-best performance, scoring multiple victories and finishing second in the championship, heralding the team’s most competitive campaign to date.
Christian Lundgaard also impressed in his first season with the team, securing a total of six podiums and a strong championship position of a career best 5th place that underlined his growth and consistency.
Meanwhile, Nolan Siegel took on a full season with Arrow McLaren, showing flashes of potential amid the intense learning curve that comes with rookie experience in IndyCar.
Across the board, the team became a consistent front-running presence, more than capable of challenging for wins and pushing established rivals week in, week out.
Read More: IndyCar 2026 Preview: Andretti Global
2026 Arrow McLaren Driver Lineup
Arrow McLaren are largely unchanged going into 2026.
- No.5 – Pato O’Ward
- No.6 – Nolan Siegel
- No.7 – Christian Lundgaard
- No.31 – Ryan Hunter-Reay
With the addition of Ryan Hunter-Reay for the sole Indianapolis 500 race the only change to the 2025 line-up.
Driver Profiles
Pato O’Ward – No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Pato O’Ward returns for his sixth season with Arrow McLaren as the team’s lead driver. Coming off a career-best runner-up finish in 2025, O’Ward combined speed with racecraft and captured multiple podiums and wins, cementing himself as one of the series’ bona-fide stars.
Known for his fearless wheel-to-wheel attacking style and tactical nous, O’Ward is expected to anchor the championship charge in 2026. With his experience and the team’s growing competitiveness, a championship push feels within reach for the Mexican star.
Nolan Siegel – No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Nolan Siegel begins his contract year in 2026 still establishing his place within the series. The Californian displayed promise in his rookie campaign but also faced growing pains as he adjusted to the top level.
Siegel enters 2026 with both pressure and optimism, with team leadership signalling confidence in his potential while the driver himself is focused on improving consistency and extracting greater performance from the papaya car week after week.
Christian Lundgaard – No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Christian Lundgaard heads into his second full season with Arrow McLaren buoyed by a standout 2025. In his first year with the team, the Dane demonstrated impressive adaptability and speed, scoring six podium finishes and culminating in one of the best seasons of his IndyCar career.
Lundgaard has spoken about using last year’s experience as a springboard for a title challenge in 2026, and with the team strengthening its operations around him, he’s a genuine contender for race wins and consistent championship points.
Ryan Hunter-Reay – No. 31 (Indy 500 Only)
For the Indianapolis 500, Arrow McLaren will field a fourth entry with veteran Ryan Hunter-Reay behind the wheel of the No. 31 Chevrolet. The 2014 Indy 500 winner and 2012 series champion returns as a one-off entrant, bringing immense experience and race savvy to the papaya squad at “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Hunter-Reay’s presence adds depth and star power to the team’s Indianapolis effort and underscores Arrow McLaren’s ambition to compete at the highest level.
Outlook for 2026
Arrow McLaren enters 2026 stronger and more unified than ever. With O’Ward and Lundgaard as proven front-runners, Siegel looking to take a significant step forward, and a marquee Indy 500 entry with Hunter-Reay, the team has both the talent and infrastructure to challenge for wins, and potentially its first championship.
As McLaren Racing deepens its roots in the IndyCar paddock, the feeling around the garage is one of confidence and purpose. After a breakout 2025 and solid foundation laid across the driver lineup, 2026 could be the year Arrow McLaren truly cements itself among IndyCar’s elite.
Up Next: Chip Ganassi Racing
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