Tony Kanaan will pilot an Arrow McLaren SP entry for next year’s Indianapolis 500, confirming rumors that began a couple weeks before.
The popular veteran will be racing in his 22nd Indy 500 next May, and will be contesting the race for his sixth different team as he searches for a second victory of the iconic race.
The news follows a recent report by RACER that AMSP crew members had been briefed on the intent to have Kanaan race for the team next season.
At 48 years old, Kanaan will have the backing of NTT Data as a sponsor for the big race, rekindling a partnership that lasted from 2015-2017 at Chip Ganassi Racing.
“I feel extremely lucky to get another shot racing in the Indy 500,” said Kanaan. “I’m excited to work with Pato [O’Ward], Felix [Rosenqvist] and Alexander [Rossi] and race with the Arrow McLaren SP team.
“My biggest battle in last year’s race was against these three drivers so working with them and driving with them will be exciting for all of us.”
2023 will mark the first time AMSP has raced four cars in the Indy 500 since taking over the team in 2020, and points towards the team’s continued growth.
Finding a driver was the last step in the team’s decision to race four cars, as equipment and personnel concerns were already sorted out earlier in the planning phase.
A number has not yet been announced for Kanaan’s entry, but the team has used numbers 66 and 86 in the past for the singe-race entries of Fernando Alonso and Juan Pablo Montoya respectively.
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