Gavin Ward, the man who brought a “Rock and Roll Lifestyle” to the Arrow McLaren IndyCar team, has left the operation as team principal.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown made the announcement on Tuesday, November 19. The decision between Ward and McLaren became effective on Monday, November 18.
Ward, who previously was part of Red Bull’s Formula One team before joining Team Penske in the IndyCar Series in 2018, guided McLaren’s emerging IndyCar team as Team Principal since 2023.
He was known for his creative musical playlists that were tailored to the city IndyCar was competing that weekend in the team’s paddock. If IndyCar were in Toronto, the musical list featured Canada’s own Rush or Tragically Hip. California-based rockers were played in the team’s paddock at Long Beach and Monterey.
With drivers such as Pato O’Ward leading the team, Arrow McLaren was a competitive force in most every race.
But the team also suffered from self-inflicted errors.
According to the team, “This is a mutual and strategic decision as the team positions itself for growth and performance into the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series season.”
The team has invested in additional talent across the organization this off-season and will continue to strengthen and develop its leadership team of Tony Kanaan, Brian Barnhart, Scott Harner, Nick Snyder, Brad O’Brien, Lauren Gaudion and Sophie Markakis-Smith.
“I leave Arrow McLaren after two years developing a people-first culture set to topple the 20-year domination of IndyCar’s championship teams,” Ward said. “We’ve made major strides during my tenure. Our 2024 IndyCar season delivered the team’s most-ever race wins, and we came within two turns of victory in the Indianapolis 500.
“Arrow McLaren is positioned for further success – with a stable driver lineup, significant off-season recruitment and thoughtful organizational changes. I wish my former colleagues well and hope our work together leads to more wins on and off the track.
“I plan to spend some time at home with my wonderful wife and two daughters while I evaluate what’s next in my career.”
Brown, who is in Las Vegas for Saturday night’s Formula One race on the Las Vegas Strip, gave his thoughts on the move at the top of McLaren’s IndyCar effort.
“I want to thank Gavin for the time he gave to our Arrow McLaren team the past two seasons,” Brown said. “We’ve grown significantly from where we were when he joined the team in 2022, and he was a big part of that transformation.
“We have a strong team in place, having grown this off-season, and we’re fired up heading into 2025 to fight for race wins and championships.”
According to Brown, there is no timetable in finding a long-term replacement for Ward.
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