MOORESVILLE, N.C. – A new look for the two entries at Arrow McLaren SP was unveiled Friday morning in Indianapolis, but the attitude has not changed.
“The biggest thing this year for us is race wins,” said second-year driver Pato O’Ward. “We need to get that first win out of the way and then start racking up as many as we can. It’s such a competitive series, we need to take the opportunities that are presented to us every single weekend to the maximum.
“I have lots of faith in this Arrow McLaren SP group. The engineering department has been working tirelessly all year. We don’t need to change too much of what we did last year with the strong results we had. We have to take that next step and that next step is winning races.”
The two-car effort featuring O’Ward and incoming veteran Felix Rosenqvist will have a new look. O’Ward’s Chevrolet will feature the Arrow McLaren colors while Rosenqvist’s will drive the Vuse Chevrolet.
Vuse is part of R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. and the brand combines tobacco expertise with innovative technology to provide adult vapor consumers with alternatives to traditional tobacco products. Vuse products are marketed in the United States by R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co., an operating company of Reynolds American Inc., a member of the British American Tobacco Group.
Although e-cigarette technology has sponsored an IndyCar team in the past, the Vuse sponsorship hopes to capitalize on the booming vaping industry.
“I think both cars looking amazing,” Rosenqvist said. “I think obviously mine looks the best. I like how they kept it clean and similar to last year, but now you can separate the two cars. That is something the fans asked for and it will be easier for our spotters to relate to a specific car.
“It’s all in the details this year. The gains are much harder to find but with an offseason we have with two days of testing, you have to dig into everything you did last year, and every little rock has to be turned. That is what we have done really well. I’m pretty sure we are better than last year and that is where we have to be.
“Then, we will see where we add up.”
Rosenqvist moves over to Arrow McLaren SP after two years at Chip Ganassi Racing.
“Joining the team has been fantastic so far,” Rosenqvist said. “I spent a lot of time here getting to know everyone. It’s a fantastic organization, it feels very natural, and I feel part of the team already.
“We’ve done two tests so far. We have one more at Laguna and one more at Indy and then the season starts.”
O’Ward is hoping to eliminate mistakes in what he believes will be very competitive, large fields.
“I think we have a real chance to compete for wins and challenge for the championship,” O’Ward said. “That is why we do this.
“We put everything we have into this and it’s logical to know that everybody on this team has the drive to win. I think it will be a good year for us.”
Two fierce drivers, racing against each other, should make for an exciting season at Arrow McLaren SP.
“I know when I am racing against Felix, he is going to give me the room,” O’Ward said. “I wish I could say that about everybody, but I can’t. We both have respect when we race each other and now that we are teammates, we can work together.”