Arrow McLaren have revealed their replacement for Kyle Larson for the 2026 Indy 500.
2012 IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay will drive the team's fourth entry (alongside their three full-time drivers) at the iconic race, his first drive for the team, after Larson confirmed that he will give up his bid for the Memorial Day Double.
Hunter-Reay has some history at the Brickyard, winning the 2014 edition of the race for Andretti after finishing third the year before – and has kept his hand in since his retirement from full-time racing, competing in each of the last three editions of the iconic race for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
The veteran driver even challenged for the win last year, but his car ran out of fuel on the way to pit road and took him out of contention.
Arrow McLaren has won nine races in IndyCar since taking over Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in 2020, all with Pato O'Ward behind the wheel, but has yet to taste victory at the biggest race in the sport.
IndyCar champion primed for Indy 500 redemption
In a McLaren statement, Hunter-Reay said: “This is an incredible opportunity in so many ways. I’d like to express my gratitude to Zak, Tony and the rest of the Arrow McLaren management team for pursuing this partnership and making it a reality.
"It is an honor to represent and drive for one of the most iconic teams in motorsports history, an organization that spares no effort or resource in the pursuit of being at the pinnacle of the sport and of course, winning the Indy 500. After coming so agonizingly close to a shot at the win in last year’s 500, I am beyond primed and ready to make the absolute most of this partnership.”
Team principal Tony Kanaan added: “Ryan is a great addition to the Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team and just who we want in that fourth car this coming May alongside Pato, Nolan and Christian. He’s an Indy 500 champion - and if you look at our history at McLaren - that's the reason we field a fourth car, to have one more contender in the mix.
"He is a proven winner, and we know he will have a strong chance to win this historic event. Ryan is one of the best teammates I’ve ever had, and we're very excited to get started with him and have him part of our team into next May.”
