ELKHART LAKE, Wis. — Earlier this year, Tony Kanaan announced the final NTT IndyCar Series race of his career would come in the 107th Indianapolis 500 for Arrow McLaren.
Kanaan started ninth, finished 16th in his final Indy 500 on May 28 and said goodbye to the fans.
Kanaan, however, will remain with Arrow McLaren as special advisor. His new role was announced Thursday.
“I’m thrilled to have Tony join Arrow McLaren and our McLaren Racing family in a more formalized capacity following his brilliant IndyCar career,” McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said. “He’s a racer, and he knows how to win. Having him around our team and mentoring our drivers can only make us stronger contenders in the NTT IndyCar championship.”
Kanaan is the 2004 IndyCar champion and 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner.
He brings a wealth of championship experience to the team to provide guidance and strategy for on-track and off-track advancement. In this new formalized role, Tony will travel with the team to races and tests, serving as a driver mentor while also working with the team’s commercial partnerships and business development.
“I had said that I wasn’t going to leave racing or the NTT IndyCar Series, so I’m very excited to join the Arrow McLaren team in this role,” Kanaan said of his new role. “Zak Brown (Arrow McLaren CEO) and Gavin Ward (Arrow McLaren Racing Director) have a great vision for where this team is headed and what we can accomplish, so I look forward to helping us get there and making the team and the series even better. This team works hard and has a lot of fun.
“That’s what racing is about, and it’s why I love being part of the team.”
With 17 career IndyCar race wins, Kanaan brings winning experience, a championship mentality, enthusiasm and personality that matches the team environment at Arrow McLaren. The driver from Brazil has unmatched success in sponsorship development and relationships in motorsport, which will help bridge the team’s commercial and competitive ambitions.
In addition to his IndyCar responsibilities, Kanaan will also be involved in McLaren Racing’s heritage program.
“Tony’s distinct skillset will help the team connect how we go racing to how we can make the most of our partnerships,” Ward said. “As a championship driver, he does both incredibly well — delivering on track and locking in committed partnerships. He brings a champion mindset to what we’re doing — and that’s racing to win championships while having fun doing it.
“Having him on the team as a multifaceted resource in his advisor role is a big win for Arrow McLaren.”
Kanaan joined Arrow McLaren in November 2022 to race his final Indy 500 as part of the team’s four-car lineup this past May. Since November, he has been an integral part of the team, traveling with Arrow McLaren to most of the races ahead of the Indy 500.