Zak Brown is optimistic that the Arrow McLaren IndyCar Series team can replicate the recent success of his Formula 1 team, as both operate under a “similar concept.”
McLaren achieved victories in two Formula 1 grands prix in 2024, narrowing the gap to series leaders Red Bull in the constructors’ standings recently.
In the IndyCar realm, Arrow McLaren’s principal driver Pato O’Ward has similarly celebrated two wins and briefly held the second position in the championship standings after the first leg of Iowa’s double-header.
However, he has since dropped to fifth place, significantly impacted by a severe crash in the latest race at Toronto.
In an exclusive interview with Autosport during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, Brown reflected on the dynamics between the two teams, stating: “Same concept.”
“We aim to attract the world’s best drivers, particularly the top talents in IndyCar. Our objective is to build the team similarly, empowering leadership and providing the necessary support, direction, and resources for them to excel,” he elaborated.
“We must be candid with ourselves and learn from our missteps. I believe there are many parallels.”
Patricio O’Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, Zak Brown
Photo by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images
In recent history, Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing have clinched the last 11 IndyCar titles, and Brown is determined to disrupt this longstanding dominance.
When questioned about the steps needed to achieve this, he said: “I believe consistency is key.”
“At the Indy 500, we performed exceptionally well, leading a large portion of the race. Our challenges seem to arise on bumpy tracks, as seen at Toronto and Long Beach.”
“The situation with Alex Palou breaching his agreement with us caused some turmoil that we are still recovering from, aside from the injury to David Malukas. This has certainly been a significant distraction, and I’m relieved that’s behind us.”
“I’m very pleased with our driver lineup. The breach of agreement was an unexpected issue that disrupted our plans.”
Initially, Arrow McLaren had announced Theo Pourchaire as the replacement for the injured Malukas for the remainder of the season, but they later opted for Indy NXT graduate Nolan Siegel instead.
Pourchaire, however, made his return to the team in Toronto to substitute for Alexander Rossi after Rossi sustained a thumb injury during practice. Rossi is set to leave the team next year, with Christian Lundgaard stepping in to join Siegel and O’Ward.
