In the world of IndyCar racing, Tony Kanaan is a name that resonates with a sense of pedigree. The IndyCar champion and Indy 500 veteran has recently charted a new course for his career, stepping into the role of team principal at Arrow McLaren. Despite this being his maiden role on the managerial side of the sport, Kanaan is calling upon his vast reservoir of experience as an elite driver to navigate this new terrain.
Kanaan’s career as a driver has gifted him insights that are proving invaluable in his new role. One such skill he is leveraging is his knack for fostering camaraderie and unity among the team. This talent, honed during his time at Andretti Autosport alongside fellow drivers Dario Franchitti, Bryan Herta, and the late Dan Wheldon, is now being utilized to create a stronger sense of fraternity within the Arrow McLaren team.
He might often be seen cheering on his team, wearing a smile on his face, but Kanaan isn’t afraid to play the tough love card when required. This balance between being a supportive friend and a stern taskmaster is one of the reasons Arrow McLaren has made strides in such a short span of time under his leadership. This was underlined by their recent front-row sweep in qualifying for The Thermal Club IndyCar Grand Prix.
Kanaan’s tenure at Arrow McLaren commenced on a solid foundation laid by his predecessor Gavin Ward. The team’s path to success continued with Pato O’Ward capturing the pole position at a recent race, marking the team’s first pole since 2023.
Kanaan told RACER, “These are the days you don’t take for granted. I’m so proud of everybody, and we’ve been working so hard to get better. I care so much about this team and making our people believe that we’re good enough.”
However, Kanaan’s leadership style isn’t just about instilling motivation. It extends to fostering an environment where positivity is reciprocated among team members. This ethos led to some tough decisions, including parting ways with those who weren’t on the same page with Kanaan’s vision for the team.
Reflecting on the team’s progress, Kanaan said, “We had a bad day yesterday. And what happened. Everybody went back, worked to improve what they can control, and transformed that in a positive way, and we’re able to execute, and today was much better, obviously. We’re not replacing anyone. We’re not. We need to believe we are the best, and as long as we understand what we need to do to extract the best, we will keep growing.”
Kanaan draws heavily from his time at Andretti, where he learnt to deal with pressure and expectations. He is now passing on these lessons to current team members, particularly Pato O’Ward. Kanaan believes that O’Ward is one of IndyCar’s best talents and is hopeful that under his guidance, O’Ward will become a champion and an Indy 500 winner. The key, as per Kanaan, is to believe, execute, and keep working together as a team.
