Captain America Returns!

By Marshall Pruett - Nov 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET

Hunter-Reay joins Arrow McLaren for 2026 Indy 500

Ryan Hunter-Reay will join Arrow McLaren for the month of May and chase his second Indianapolis 500 win while attempting to bring the team its first.

The winner of the 2014 Indy 500 with Andretti Global came close to becoming a two-time victor at "The Greatest Spectacle In Racing" in 2025 with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, when his No. 23 Chevy was leading late in the race but ran out of fuel entering pit lane for his final stop and refused to refire.

This time around, the 2012 IndyCar Series champion will drive Arrow McLaren's No. 31 Chevy, which calls back to the first number he used as a rookie in 2003 with the American Spirit Team Johansson Champ Car outfit.

“This is an incredible opportunity in so many ways,” Hunter-Reay said. “I’d like to express my gratitude to Zak (Brown), Tony (Kanaan) and the rest of the Arrow McLaren management team for pursuing this partnership and making it a reality. It is an honor to represent and drive for one of the most iconic teams in motorsports history, an organization that spares no effort or resource in the pursuit of being the at the pinnacle of the sport and of course, winning the Indy 500. After coming so agonizingly close to a shot at the win in last year’s 500, I am beyond primed and ready to make the absolute most of this partnership.”

With 17 Indy 500 starts, Hunter-Reay, who turns 45 in December, brings a veteran presence to one of IndyCar’s youngest Indy 500 squads. He’ll work with perennial Speedway contender Pato O’Ward, who’s placed second or third in three of the last four 500s, emerging oval talent Christian Lundgaard, who took seventh for the team at Indy, and Nolan Siegel, who placed 13th after crashing on the 199th lap in his first race at the Brickyard.

“Ryan is a great addition to the Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team and just who we want in that fourth car this coming May alongside Pato, Nolan and Christian,” said Kanaan, Hunter-Reay’s teammate from 2010 at Andretti, who runs Arrow McLaren.

“He’s an Indy 500 champion – and if you look at our history at McLaren, that's the reason we field a fourth car, to have one more contender in the mix. He is a proven winner, and we know he will have a strong chance to win this historic event. Ryan and I won quite a few races together, and he’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had. We’re very excited to get started with him and have him part of our team into next May.”