McLaren boss Zak Brown ‘couldn’t be more excited’ for start of 2025 IndyCar season

I couldn’t be more excited to tune into FOX’s broadcast this weekend. In the list of things that we can do to improve INDYCAR, number one was finding the right broadcast partner, and to have FOX on board is fantastic. Eric Shanks has a personal commitment to and passion for INDYCAR, and I think that will come through in the broadcast quality.

Those commercials epitomize what the series needs to embrace across the board – edgy, fresh, fun and out-of-the-box thinking and action. I’m impressed with what FOX is doing straight out of the gate, and from the conversations I’ve had with Eric and other FOX leadership and its production teams, that will continue through their broadcast coverage each race weekend. They’re focused on learning about the history and future of INDYCAR and what works best, intent on evolving their broadcast through the season. Continuous improvement, I love that.

The drivers are the stars of the show, and FOX has creatively promoted them in recent months, but we need to keep pushing as a collective. We need to continue searching for new successful avenues to promote their talents and personalities to in turn expand our audience. It will take a new and innovative approach, but the framework is in place to take monumental steps that will reward our sport immensely.

In the meantime, we’ve made some strong changes within the team at Arrow McLaren this offseason. I’m excited about our new lineup with Nolan Siegel and Christian Lundgaard joining Pato O’Ward, who has already shown himself to be a championship contender, and I’m ready to see them challenge on the track this weekend.

Tony Kanaan brings his experience and passion for winning to lead the team on the competition side as Team Principal, and I’m thrilled to have Kevin Thimjon join the team as President, directing the business side of our INDYCAR team. I’ve known Kevin for a long time, when he was on my leadership team at JMI, and he and Tony are the right combination we need to keep raising the bar to win consistently on and off the track.

There’s no doubt we’re counting down the days until the Indy 500, where we’ll be racing once again with Kyle Larson in the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet for our fourth entry in the race. It’s an honor to work with Mr. Hendrick, Jeff Gordon and the Hendrick Motorsports team. We’re working hard together to get Kyle in a position to complete all 1,100 miles on May 25 in Indy and Charlotte, and just maybe win at both.