MCLAREN STUMBLES
In the biggest on-track surprise of the year, McLaren, one of racing’s iconic teams, and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso came up short in their attempt to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.
Longtime SPEED SPORT Indy car reporter Bruce Martin wrote, “The McLaren Indy car operation was completely disorganized, and its European crew was completely unprepared for the rigors of the Indy 500.
“It was like covering the sinking of the Titanic.”
During the summer, Zac Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, announced the team will return to full-time Indy car competition for the first time since 1979 next year after partnering with Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and Chevrolet.
Now known as Arrow McLaren Racing SP, the team plans to field two full-time entries in the 2020 NTT IndyCar Series.