Arrow McLaren uses the IndyCar offseason to work on more than race pace: it develops drivers and cars, prepares crews, expands its operating capacity, and builds commercial relationships. After the 2025 season, CEO Zak Brown said the team was focused on improving consistency and getting all three cars into stronger contention for 2026. Its new Indianapolis McLaren Racing Center gives that work more room and dedicated facilities.
What did Arrow McLaren want to improve after the 2025 season?
In his September 2025 post-season letter, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said Arrow McLaren had recorded two wins, three pole positions and 12 podiums during the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. He reported that Pato O’Ward finished second in the championship and Christian Lundgaard fifth. These are the results and standings Brown cited in the team’s letter.
Brown said the team was already focused on 2026, with ambitions that included contending for the Indianapolis 500 and the series championship, and placing all three cars in the top ten. He identified consistency as an important area to improve. Specifically, he said the offseason would be used to develop Nolan Siegel and help the No. 6 crew deliver complete race weekends. Read Brown’s post-season letter.
How does the new Indianapolis facility support preparation?
The McLaren Racing Center opened at the team’s February 4, 2026 season launch. McLaren describes the 86,000-square-foot facility as a base for year-round car development, building and adjustment. INDYCAR reported that the project represented a $30 million investment in Indianapolis and would nearly triple the space Arrow McLaren operated in, with the design intended to improve workflow and daily operations.
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The expansion answers a practical challenge created by the team’s growth. INDYCAR reported in December 2025 that Arrow McLaren had grown from roughly 30 employees to more than 120 since its full-time return in 2020. The team had maintained three full-time entries as well as an additional Indy 500-only car after 2023, while limited space in its former building constrained that structure.
The center’s dedicated work areas span the stages of preparing a race car:
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- Build and development: machine and gearbox rooms, fabrication space, assembly and subassembly areas, and paint booths.
- Car and crew operations: a pit-stop practice area with a complete pit-box replica, where crews can rehearse their work.
- Training and recovery: the McLaren Performance Hub has group training areas, a hot tub, cold plunge, sauna, locker rooms and recovery space.
Engineering, commercial and corporate departments also have workspaces in the center. That brings technical and business functions into the same expanded operating base. McLaren’s facility tour, INDYCAR’s facility investment report and INDYCAR’s report on the renovation and team growth describe the project and its context.
Why is partnership work part of the offseason business?
A racing team also has to build relationships that connect its operation with partners and fans. On September 28, 2026, Edward Jones and McLaren Racing announced a multiyear partnership naming Edward Jones McLaren Racing’s Official Private Wealth Management Partner. The agreement covers the Formula 1 and Arrow McLaren IndyCar teams, but Edward Jones’s Arrow McLaren activation is scheduled to begin in 2027, not during the 2026 season. The announcement describes co-branded content, experiences and programming; it does not disclose the deal’s financial value. See the partnership announcement.
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What does offseason preparation mean for the next season?
For Arrow McLaren, offseason work is both sporting preparation and business infrastructure. Driver development and a focus on consistency address performance goals; a larger shop, room for pit-stop rehearsal, and training and recovery facilities support the people and processes behind each race weekend. Commercial offices and new partnerships extend the work beyond the garage. The aim Brown set for 2026—stronger results across all three cars—depends on those parts of the operation working together.
Quick Recap
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- 1:64 SCALE: Manufacturer-specific body design faithfully recreates the iconic orange and blue Arrow McLaren livery in impressive detail.
- COMPACT SIZE: Measures approximately 3.25" x 1.25" x 0.75", making it perfect for display or adding to your Indy collection.
- LIMITED EDITION COLLECTIBLE: Recommended for ages 5 and up, this limited edition model is ideal for racing fans and die-cast collectors alike.
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