IndyCar news: Arrow McLaren confirms shocking Scott Dixon, Felix Rosenqvist additions

Arrow McLaren is shaking up the team’s driver lineup for the 2027 IndyCar season.

The team confirmed on Monday that Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist would be joining the team for the 2027 season, alongside current driver Pato O’Ward, in the team’s full three-car, full-season lineup. Ryan Hunter-Reay, the winner of the 2014 Indianapolis 500, will join Arrow McLaren in May to run in the 111th Indianapolis 500.

According to the team, the move is geared at winning that race, and completing McLaren Racing’s quest to secure the Triple Crown of Motorsport with wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Monaco Grand Prix. McLaren Racing has won all three events (winning the Indianapolis 500 in 1974, the Monaco Grand Prix first in 1984, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995) hopes to secure the Indianapolis 500 in the team’s current “papaya” era. In addition, McLaren could become the first team to win all three in the same year, as McLaren will return to endurance racing next motorsport season.

In an announcement, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown hailed the move as a way to “strengthen” every part of the team.

“Our IndyCar team has shown fantastic momentum, and this lineup of Pato, Scott, Felix and Ryan will strengthen every aspect of our program. We’ve got our eyes firmly set on the Championship as well as winning the Indianapolis 500 to secure the Triple Crown in the Papaya era. These four drivers bring a wealth of experience as well as great chemistry and will no doubt have a positive impact across our entire team.”

Brown also thanked current drivers Christian Lundgaard and Nolan Siegel, who will be departing the team at the end of the season.

“Christian’s and Nolan’s contributions have helped shape the progress we’re building on today, and I appreciate the energy and drive they have brought to the team since they joined,” added Brown.

Dixon, a six-time IndyCar champion and one of the sport’s greats, called the move an “exciting next step” in his already legendary racing career.

“Joining Arrow McLaren in 2027 is an exciting next step in my career. It was a big decision for myself, for my family, and I’m looking forward to contributing to what the team, Zak and Tony [Ganassi, Arrow McLaren Team Principal] are building there. As a New Zealander, being part of Bruce McLaren’s legacy will be special; his spirit and grit are still very much rooted in that team, and I’m excited to carry that on,” said Dixon.

For Rosenqvist, this is a homecoming of sorts, as he raced for Arrow McLaren from 2020 through 2023.

“I’m excited to return to Arrow McLaren next season and reunite with Pato, of course, and also Tony, Zak and the crew and engineers I worked with previously. There are a lot of familiar faces, and we’ve got an incredible lineup with Scott joining and Ryan returning for the 500. I think our collective experience will be a huge benefit. I’ve still got work to do to finish this season strong, but I’m looking forward to what’s to come at Arrow McLaren.”

Rosenqvist is the reigning Indy 500 winner.

As for Hunter-Reay, who also serves as Arrow McLaren’s Sporting Director, he noted that he and the team both have “unfinished business” in the Indianapolis 500 after he finished 32nd in the race this past season for Arrow McLaren, when he spun on Lap 18 and hit the wall.

“I have unfinished business with the 500, and so does this team,” added Hunter-Reay. “Our focus is on Indy; learn from the past, and our number one goal is to win the Indy 500. We have ample amount of time to be fully prepared in working toward a big month of May in 2027 racing alongside Pato, Scott and Felix. The four of us certainly know our way around the Speedway. In the meantime, working with the team full time as Sporting Director offers a unique opportunity to have a direct impact on our ambitious development plans for the 2027 season, the Indy 500 and beyond.”

The move instantly makes Lundgaard the most intriguing free agent in IndyCar. He is coming off a pole position at last weekend’s Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, where he finished second to O’Ward as Arrow McLaren locked out the front row. At the moment, Lundgaard sits third in the IndyCar standings, just 65 points behind Alex Palou.

The series heads to Nashville next weekend for the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix.