Arrow McLaren has named Tony Kanaan as its IndyCar team principal, with Kevin Thimjon joining the outfit as its President.
Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team has announced two key leadership appointments ahead of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season opener in St. Petersburg, Fla. Tony Kanaan steps into the role of Team Principal after serving as Deputy Team Principal since the end of the 2024 season. Tony, who raced his final Indianapolis 500 with the team in 2023, has since taken on increasingly influential roles within the organization, transitioning from Special Advisor in 2023 to Team Principal today.
His deep expertise and strong leadership make him a natural fit for the position in which he will oversee team and driver development and key commercial relationships. Kevin Thimjon joins Arrow McLaren this spring as President, bringing extensive leadership experience from roles at Core BTS, Lids Sports Group, and Just Marketing International (JMI). He will lead the team’s business operations, including finance, commercial strategy and administration, supporting the team’s long-term growth and operational efficiency. Kevin will also join the McLaren Racing Executive Team under CEO Zak Brown.
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said: “I’m excited to welcome Kevin to Arrow McLaren and our leadership group. Kevin and I have stayed close since our days together at JMI, and he’s the right fit to set the team up for long-term success. A few months ago, I said if we can find extra horsepower to add to the team, we’ll add it, and Kevin is the perfect example of that. Under Tony’s leadership, the team has been moving forward quickly, and he and Kevin will work well together to keep that positive momentum up. Our sights are set on how we stabilize and grow strategically while competing at the top.”
Tony Kanaan, Team Principal, Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team, said: “A lot has happened since my last Indy 500 less than two years ago, to say the least. I’ve embraced every opportunity to grow with the team and I’m excited to officially step into the Team Principal role, and having Kevin join to take on the business side of our team is part of our winning strategy. We’re always looking for good people and talent to make the team stronger, and he and I will work well together.”
Kevin Thimjon, President, Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team, said: “I’m looking forward to joining Arrow McLaren and getting back into motorsport. Zak and I worked together at JMI for several years, so it will be great to work with him again and help grow a team and brand that has a lot of unlocked potential, beyond the success it’s already realized. I have no doubt that Tony will get me up to speed on all things racing while we build the business with the strong team in place.”
[The story is as per press release]
