Arrow McLaren SP has promoted Taylor Kiel to the position of Team President ahead of the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series campaign.
Kiel – an Indianapolis native – first joined the team in 2007 when Team co-owner Sam Schmidt was running his championship-winning Indy Lights outfit and has since risen through the ranks over the past 14 years most recently taking on the role of Managing Director of Competition.
Kiel will now be tasked with overseeing all operations within the organisation, including both the competition and commercial sides of the related to the team’s IndyCar activities.
“I want to thank Sam and Ric [Peterson] for giving me the opportunity to lead this team at a higher level,” said Kiel.
“Last year we showed our ability to grow and improve as a team, both competitively and commercially. This year we continue our journey towards becoming one of the top IndyCar teams, on and off the track.”
In 2020, Kiel has helped lead the team to multiple top-five finishes managing the No.5 car driven by Pato O’Ward which eventually led to the Mexican finishing fourth in the overall standings.
Alongside his role as Team President, Kiel will remain as lead strategist for O’Ward across all race weekends.
“This is the next natural step for Taylor and for the evolution of the team,” added Arrow McLaren SP co-owner Sam Schmidt.
“I’ll never forget him showing up to the shop 14 years ago, without any tools, looking for a job in racing.
“He started pushing a broom and has excelled in every position from mechanic to car chief to IndyCar Team Manager and now President, learning and applying knowledge from some of the best in the industry.
“We are incredibly proud of the leader he has become.”
Arrow McLaren SP will field O’Ward alongside newcomer Felix Rosenqvist in the No.7 entry with Juan Pablo Montoya joining the team for the 105th running of the Indianapolis 500.
The first race of the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series campaign is set to take place at Barber Motorsports Park on April 11.
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