Gavin Ward has departed Arrow McLaren and his role as team principal after two seasons, effective immediately, team officials announced Nov. 19.
Arrow McLaren officials called the move “a mutual and strategic decision as the team positions itself for growth and performance into the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.”
“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 offseason 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.”
Arrow McLaren earned three victories in the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, all from driver Pato O’Ward. The Mexican finished a team-high fifth in the standings. O’Ward also led the team by finishing fourth in the 2023 series standings.
The team said in a news release it has invested in additional talent across the organization this offseason 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 want to thank Gavin for the time he gave to our Arrow McLaren team the past two seasons,” McLaren Racing CEO Zak 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 offseason, and we’re fired up heading into 2025 to fight for race wins and championships.”
The 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season starts Sunday, March 2 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding, broadcast live on FOX and the INDYCAR Radio Network.
