Arrow McLaren

On January 6, 2000, Sam Schmidt was in Orlando, Florida practicing at the Walt Disney World Speedway when his car crashed exiting turn two, hitting the outside wall at approximately 180 mph. Schmidt was airlifted to a nearby hospital in extremely critical condition. He was diagnosed as a quadriplegic, the result of a severe injury to his spinal cord at the C-3/C-4 levels and was on a respirator for 5 months. In 2001, 14 months after his accident, Schmidt announced the formation of Sam Schmidt Motorsports.

In 2012, the team was renamed to Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports after fellow ex-driver Davey Hamilton brought the team enough sponsorship to continue racing in IndyCar full-time. Canadian businessman Ric Peterson purchased a stake in the team in 2013 to form Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. In 2019, primary sponsor Arrow Electronics became the title sponsor for the team, resulting in the Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports banner for that year.

For 2020, the team reached an agreement with McLaren Racing to become a joint entry, with the combined team being known as Arrow McLaren SP. Schmidt and Peterson remained as the sole co-owners until McLaren purchased a 75% stake after the 2021 season, with McLaren CEO Zak Brown installed as chairman. Schmidt and Peterson held the remaining 25% stake in the team through 2024. For the 2023 season, the team dropped the “SP” branding to become Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team. In January 2025, McLaren purchased all remaining stakes from Schmidt and Peterson to complete their takeover of the team.

In 2026, Arrow McLaren expanded its Indianapolis base with the opening of the McLaren Racing Center, a newly renovated $30 million facility that increased the team’s footprint from approximately 33,000 sq ft to around 86,000 sq ft to support improved workflow and collaboration among mechanics, engineers, and other staff. The new McLaren Racing Center also features 12 dedicated car bays, indoor space for all team haulers, a pit-stop practice area, office space, and an integrated gym and recovery facility for athletes.

^ YouTube video, Sam's story, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, May 21, 2014

^ Saunders, Nate (December 3, 2021). "Inside the incredible world of Sam Schmidt, quadriplegic racer". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 23, 2022.

^ Pruett, Marshall (December 12, 2022). "Arrow McLaren SP set for rebranding". RACER. Archived from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.

^ "Arrow McLaren SP set for rebranding". RACER. December 12, 2022. Archived from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2023.

^ "Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team". www.mclaren.com. Retrieved September 9, 2023.

^ Pruett, Marshall (January 3, 2025). "Schmidt, Peterson bid farewell to Arrow McLaren". racer.com. Racer Media & Marketing, Inc. Retrieved January 3, 2025.

^ "Inside Arrow McLaren's New $30M Racing Center: The Facts, Figures, and Philosophy". www.fanamp.com. Retrieved February 23, 2026.

On January 6, 2000, Sam Schmidt was in Orlando, Florida practicing at the Walt Disney World Speedway when his car crashed exiting turn two, hitting the outside wall at approximately 180 mph. Schmidt was airlifted to a nearby hospital in extremely critical condition. He was diagnosed as a quadriplegic, the result of a severe injury to his spinal cord at the C-3/C-4 levels and was on a respirator for 5 months. In 2001, 14 months after his accident, Schmidt announced the formation of Sam Schmidt Motorsports.

^ YouTube video, Sam's story, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, May 21, 2014

^ Saunders, Nate (December 3, 2021). "Inside the incredible world of Sam Schmidt, quadriplegic racer". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 23, 2022.

In 2012, the team was renamed to Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports after fellow ex-driver Davey Hamilton brought the team enough sponsorship to continue racing in IndyCar full-time. Canadian businessman Ric Peterson purchased a stake in the team in 2013 to form Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. In 2019, primary sponsor Arrow Electronics became the title sponsor for the team, resulting in the Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports banner for that year.

For 2020, the team reached an agreement with McLaren Racing to become a joint entry, with the combined team being known as Arrow McLaren SP. Schmidt and Peterson remained as the sole co-owners until McLaren purchased a 75% stake after the 2021 season, with McLaren CEO Zak Brown installed as chairman. Schmidt and Peterson held the remaining 25% stake in the team through 2024. For the 2023 season, the team dropped the “SP” branding to become Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team. In January 2025, McLaren purchased all remaining stakes from Schmidt and Peterson to complete their takeover of the team.

^ Pruett, Marshall (December 12, 2022). "Arrow McLaren SP set for rebranding". RACER. Archived from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.

^ "Arrow McLaren SP set for rebranding". RACER. December 12, 2022. Archived from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2023.

^ "Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team". www.mclaren.com. Retrieved September 9, 2023.

^ Pruett, Marshall (January 3, 2025). "Schmidt, Peterson bid farewell to Arrow McLaren". racer.com. Racer Media & Marketing, Inc. Retrieved January 3, 2025.

In 2026, Arrow McLaren expanded its Indianapolis base with the opening of the McLaren Racing Center, a newly renovated $30 million facility that increased the team’s footprint from approximately 33,000 sq ft to around 86,000 sq ft to support improved workflow and collaboration among mechanics, engineers, and other staff. The new McLaren Racing Center also features 12 dedicated car bays, indoor space for all team haulers, a pit-stop practice area, office space, and an integrated gym and recovery facility for athletes.

^ "Inside Arrow McLaren's New $30M Racing Center: The Facts, Figures, and Philosophy". www.fanamp.com. Retrieved February 23, 2026.