Alexander Rossi is officially switching to Arrow McLaren SP for next season, which will only be his second team in his NTT IndyCar Series career, as Rossi has driven for Andretti Autosport in every race to date.
The 30-year-old California native will drive a third car for the organization with a multi-year deal, which has not been yet numbered.
“First, I want to thank everyone at Andretti Autosport for an incredible seven years,” Rossi said in a press release. “It has been a great ride with an awesome team, and it has been an honor to race for the Andretti name and for Michael for so long. The time has come for a new challenge, with a team that is growing in the sport.
“I look forward to contributing to the development of Arrow McLaren SP and helping them reach the top. I see the commitment this team has to each other and to me, and I’m looking forward to getting started. It’s time for me to race for another one of motorsport’s biggest names: McLaren.”
Rossi has not had stellar performances of late as his current winless streak extended to 43 races with his fifth-place effort in this past weekend’s Indianapolis 500. He won the series’ biggest race in 2016, his first year with Andretti Autosport.
From there and with a number switch, the No. 27 Andretti team earned another six victories with a highest of three wins in 2018. That season, Rossi was runner-up in the championship standings.
“As we look forward to 2023, we are looking for a driver that will be a great fit and bring experience to the team,” Taylor Kiel, President of Arrow McLaren SP, said. “Alex is a driver who knows what it takes to succeed in this sport and will strengthen our talented driver line-up. He shares the same winning mindset that I see every day across Arrow McLaren SP and I think we will find a lot of success together in the years to come.”
AMSP currently holds seven checkered flags, but have only collected three wins over the last three years since becoming a newly branded team with McLaren. Pato O’Ward, who recently signed a contract extension through the end of 2025, won earlier this season at Barber Motorsports Park and stands second in the current points standings.
Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, added, “Alex is a proven race winner and an Indianapolis 500 champion, who shares our desire to win. It is essential that we put the right talent in place, both inside and outside the car, so we can consistently compete for championships and race wins as a team. He is someone we have had our eye on for some time and we’re excited to see what he’ll do as a part of Arrow McLaren SP.”
