After seven years with Andretti Autosport, 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi is headed to Arrow McLaren Schmidt Peterson with a multi-year deal. At McLaren, Rossi will team with Pato O'Ward and a yet-to-be-named driver, as Felix Rosenqvist doesn't currently have a contract for the 2023 season. Meanwhile at Andretti, Rossi's seat will be filled by 2021 Indy Lights champion and current rookie Kyle Kirkwood.
With Rossi, McLaren is getting an experienced and supremely talented racer, with seven wins in the series, including his iconic 500 triumph. O'Ward is one of IndyCar's brightest young talents, fighting for the championship in his first two full-time seasons in the series, and running second currently after a hard-fought P2 at this past weekend's 500. Arrow McLaren SP is already one of the best small, challenger teams in the IndyCar series, and with Rossi and O'Ward it should be a formidable presence on the 2023 grid.
"The time has come for a new challenge, with a team that is growing in the sport," said Rossi in a statement."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 challenged for the championship in 2018 and 2019, but struggled in 2020 and 2021, with no IndyCar race wins since 2019. At McLaren, he'll surely be hoping his fortunes change.
Kirkwood currently drives for A.J. Foyt racing, but he dominated Indy Lights with Andretti in 2021. His best result so far is a 10th place at Long Beach, and in the Indy 500, he placed 17th, making him the second-finishing rookie, just one place behind David Malukas. Kirkwood will partner with Colton Herta and Romain Grosjean, both contracted to Andretti through 2023, and another driver. Devlin DeFrancesco is currently with Andretti on a one-year deal.
A car enthusiast since childhood, Chris Perkins served as Road & Track's engineering nerd and Porsche apologist.
