Could Valentino Rossi have driven for McLaren in the Indy 500?

Last July, Zak Brown revealed to Nathan Brown of the IndyStar newspaper that Arrow McLaren was trying to finalize the organization of an oval track test for a driver who had never driven one before.IndyCar before. “We have a trick up our sleeve, and it would be absolutely fantastic if it came true. It would be incredible, it would be gigantic.”he even dared to say.

At that time, Arrow McLaren was in the midst of searching for a driver to replace Kyle Larson in the team's fourth car for the Indianapolis 500. The now two-time champion of the NASCAR Cup Series participated in the last two editions of the May classic and was clearly the hottest name the team could have attracted on the American continent. For McLaren's planned test, before a possible entry in the Indy 500, to be so "gigantic," it needed to be a more European name.

Many imagined at the time that the conversation might turn to the four-time world champion of Formula 1 Max Verstappen, but with the Canadian Grand Prix taking place at the same time as the 2026 Indy 500, that was quickly ruled out. Names like Jenson Button (who confirmed to us that he had been in contact with a team to participate in the Indianapolis event) or Sebastian Vettel were also mentioned. But this Thursday, once Ryan Hunter-Reay's name was officially confirmed in car #31, journalist Jenna Fryer, known for her reliable sources, particularly at Arrow McLaren, simply revealed that the driver Zak Brown was chasing was… Valentino Rossi !

The nine-time motorcycle world champion, who since his retirement at the end of 2017 has made a transition to GT and other racing series.Endurance If successful, he would have ticked quite a few boxes, in terms of his international appeal. While Kyle Larson brought with him a large NASCAR fan base, Valentino Rossi would have brought with him the same fluorescent yellow army that floods circuits worldwide, especially since he has been representing BMW in WEC !

On paper, the Italian could have easily participated in the Indy 500, provided he completed a rookie test in IndyCar on an oval beforehand. This was the session Zak Brown had been teasing last July… Once this session was completed, Rossi would have qualified for the Indianapolis 500 rookie test, which would then have allowed him to attempt to qualify. This lengthy process allows newcomers to gradually acclimatize to driving an IndyCar at an average speed of over 350 km/h on an oval. This wouldn't have been Rossi's first foray onto an oval, as he tested a NASCAR Xfinity Series car on the Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2013.

The Hunter-Reay solution

While the Rossi option didn't pan out, possibly due to the Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours test days held a few days before the Indy 500, Arrow McLaren has secured a much better choice than a second option in Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2014 winner of the race. The 44-year-old Floridian is still very much in contention, even though the Indianapolis 500 is his only IndyCar appearance this year. His performance last May, where he was in a position to win outright at the wheel of a Dallara-Chevrolet for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing before a problem during his final pit stop, speaks volumes.

Tony Kanaan, the team principal, explained that Hunter-Reay, with whom he worked in 2010 when the American joined Andretti Autosport, is one of the few available drivers capable of winning in Indiana. Therefore, if a plan to sign an "internationally renowned" driver isn't feasible, a reliable and dedicated veteran is an excellent choice.

“For me, the fourth car, if you look at the history of this car, especially with the previous driver we had, Kyle Larson, it’s an understatement to say that bringing in such a prominent driver is going to make headlines. The intention of running this car before that, as we saw with Juan Pablo Montoya in particular, is also to give ourselves another shot at winning the Indy 500. I think we both come from a four-car team that put everything into this project. That’s why I landed here in 2023, if you recall (Kanaan’s last IndyCar race was the 2023 Indy 500 for Arrow McLaren. Ed.). For me, it was like I needed a winner.” I needed a guy capable of winning the Indy 500. There aren't many guys available right now.

Ryan Hunter-Reay will therefore be reunited with one of his former teammates as team boss for a one-off appearance at the Indy 500. Don't spread it around too much, but it's a strategy that worked very well in 2011, when Dan Wheldon joined the team of his former teammate Bryan Herta, before going on to win the Indianapolis 500…

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