McLaren arrives full time

McLaren confirmed his return full-time in Indycar more than four decades after his last program in the American single-seater championship. The Woking outfit will be associated with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and will enter two Chevrolet-powered cars. SPM will be responsible for managing the team's operations, while McLaren will add its technical and commercial expertise. SPM founders Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson will retain their positions.

“Indycar has been part of McLaren since its first years in competition and the discipline is no longer only growing in North America because it is the best teams in the world that are investing in it”, notes Zak Brown, director of McLaren Racing.

“We believe we can help each other with SPM in our goals. Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson have built a solid foundation and together we intend to take the next step. We come to this discipline with the greatest respect for this sport, for our opponents, for the public and for the challenge ahead., added the director of McLaren Racing.

It will be Gil de Ferran who will be in charge of McLaren's Indycar program. A team entirely independent from that of the F1 will be implemented.

“I am extremely proud that Ric and I have built a team that can partner with a manufacturer of the caliber of McLaren. We will only be stronger to reach the heights of Indycar.”, adds Sam Schmidt.

McLaren returned to Indycar to compete in the Indianapolis 500 in 2017 with Andretti before returning this year with Carlin. If Fernando Alonso had shone in the biggest American race during his first attempt, this year's edition went less well since the Asturian failed to qualify on the grid. The two structures have not yet announced their pilots. Currently, James Hinchcliffe and Marcus Ericsson are the two drivers signed to Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.