Tony Kanaan. (Photo by James Black | IMS Photo)

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio

Recognized as a tenacious, championship-caliber driver during his INDYCAR career, Tony Kanaan’s accompanying people skills have taken him to the next corporate level.

The man widely known as “TK” will lead Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team into this weekend’s 2025 season-opener as Team Principal. Kanaan has served as Deputy Team Principal since the end of the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series season.

Tony Kanaan. (Photo by James Black | IMS Photo)

Kanaan’s promotion is part of two key leadership appointments at Arrow McLaren prior to the Firestone Grand Prix of St.Petersburg street race in Florida. As announced on Feb. 20, Kevin Thimjon has joined Arrow McLaren as President, bringing his extensive financial experience from roles at Core BTS, Lids Sports Group and Just Marketing International (JMI).

“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,” said Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing. “Our sights are set on how we stabilize and grow strategically while competing at the top.”

Kanaan _ who finished a lead-lap 16th his final Indianapolis 500 start in the No. 66 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet in 2023 _ since has taken on increasingly influential roles within the organization, transitioning from Special Advisor in 2023 to Team Principal. Tony’s expertise on issues including driver safety make him a natural fit for his new role, in which he will oversee team and driver development and key commercial relationships.

“A lot has happened since my last Indy 500 less than two years ago, to say the least,” said Kanaan, a 50-year-old native of Salvador, Brazil. “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.”

Thimjon has been added to the McLaren Racing Executive Team led by Brown. “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,” Brown said. “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.”

Thimjon will oversee Arrow McLaren’s business operations, including finance, commercial strategy and administration in a bid to support the team’s long-term growth and operational efficiency.

“I’m looking forward to joining Arrow McLaren and getting back into motorsport,” said Thimjon, a resident of Zionsville, Ind. “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’salready 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 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding is set for Sunday, March 2. Arrow McLaren ace Pato O’Ward is the defending event champion. A native of Mexico with family ties to San Antonio, Texas, O’Ward was declared the race-winner after NTT P1 Award-winner Josef Newgarden of Team Penske was disqualified following a post-race inquiry that determined he had violated the series’ push-to-pass rules.

Broadcast coverage Sunday is scheduled to begin at noon (EST) on FOX Sports, with a Spanish language version on FOX Deportes. INDY NXT by Firestone’s season-opener will take place on Saturday, March 1, at 10 a.m. on FOX Sports 1. The INDYCAR Radio Network will provide coverage of both races,with audio available on SiriusXM Channel 218 and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

Kanaan won the INDYCAR championship in 2004 driving for Andretti Green Racing. Backing up his “Ironman” nickname, Kanaan completed all 3,305 laps-raced while leading 889 enroute to three wins, 15 top-five and 16 top-10 results. Kanaan won the 2013 Indianapolis 500 in the No. 11 Hydroxycut KV Racing Technology-SH Racing Dallara/Chevrolet. Kanaan started 12th in the traditional 33-car field and led 34 laps around the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval.

Tony Kanaan. (Photo by James Black | IMS Photo)

A perennial fan favorite, Kanaan was voted INDYCAR’s Most Popular Driver in 2013.

Kanaan _ whose given name is Antoine Rizkallah Kanaan Filho _ speaks Portuguese, Spanish, Italian and English, a plus in a series that draws talent from around the world. Kanaan made his INDYCAR debut in 1998 in the Championship Auto Racing Teams series driving for Tasman Motorsports Group. He finished ninth in points and was named CART Jim Trueman Rookie of the Year.

Kanaan started 389 INDYCAR races, posting 17 victories, 15 poles, 79 top-three and 134 top-five finishes. During his driving career, which included two stints at Chip Ganassi Racing, Kanaan became an outspoken leader on the issue of driver safety, specifically during the risk/reward era of “pack racing” on Texas Motor Speedway’s high-banked/1.5-mile oval in Fort Worth during the early 2000s.  

Kanaan earned his “Ironman” moniker by starting a record 318 consecutive INDYCAR races _ a streak that began at the CARTPortland (Ore.) race in 2001 _ before morphing into a reduced,six start schedule for Waller, Texas-based A.J. Foyt Racing in 2020. Tony’s fitness regimen as a dedicated runner and cyclist has seen him compete in numerous triathlon, half-Ironman and Ironman events, including the Ironman World Championship in 2011.

The appointments of Kanaan and Thimjon capped an unusuallybusy offseason at the top of Arrow McLaren. Change in the team’s hierarchy officially began with the announcement that as of Dec. 31, 2024, McLaren Racing had secured sole ownership of Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team following the final phase of its buyout from co-owners Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson.

McLaren purchased a 75 percent stake in the team in 2021, which had evolved from Schmidt Peterson Motorsports to Arrow McLaren SP and most recently to Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team in 2023. Schmidt and Peterson retained minority ownership from 2021 to 2024.

Brown said the deal would “grow and strengthen” the presence of McLaren Racing in North America. “Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson have been great partners and co-owners,” said Brown, a 53-year-old native of Los Angeles. “I want to thank them as we continue to build what they started many years ago _ and that is a championship-caliber NTT IndyCar Series team.”

Sam Schmidt. Photo by Dana Garrett

Schmidt’s exit marked the end of an INDYCAR career that began in Tony George’s Indy Racing League with a single start during the series’ inaugural 1996-97 season. A native of Lincoln, Neb., Schmidt grew up working on race cars with his father. Sam’s racing career began at age 5, competing until age 10 in motocross until his father was injured in a serious off-road racing accident.

Schmidt was graduated from Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., with a bachelor of science degree in business administration as well as an MBA in international finance.

Schmidt’s pathway to the IRL was preceded by competition in the SCCA Spec Racer series, the SCCA Formula Continental series, the Hooters Formula Cup Pro Series and U.S. Formula Ford 2000 series _ where he won the first race staged at Walt Disney World Speedway in Lake Buena Vista, near Orlando, Fla., in 1996.

Schmidt was 32-years-old when competition in George’sfledgling, all-oval IRL beckoned. Aligned with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indy 500, among the IRL’s goals was to provide opportunities for new participants to compete in domestic open-wheel racing at its highest level while also controlling costs and entering new markets.

Schmidt was among a disparate group chasing the dream of competing in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on Memorial Day weekend at IMS. That list included Michele Alboreto of Monaco, Sweden’s Kenny Brack, Canadian Scott Goodyear, Frenchman Stephan Gregoire, Roberto Guerrero of Colombia, Michel Jourdain Jr. of Mexico, Arie Luyendyk of Holland, Eliseo Salazar of Chile and Americans Billy Roe, Billy Boat, Robbie Buhl, Buzz Calkins, Eddie Cheever Jr., Mark Dismore, Robby Gordon, Joe Gosek, Mike Groff, Davey Hamilton, Richie Hearn, Buddy Lazier, Danny Ongais, Johnny Parsons, John Paul Jr., Scott Sharp, Tony Stewart, Johnny Unser and Jeff Ward.

Schmidt finished the 1999 IRL season in September as pole and race-winner on Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s 1.5-mile oval.Schmidt was in the midst of preseason testing on Jan. 6, 2000 when he crashed _ ironically enough _ on Walt Disney World Speedway’s 1-mile oval. Schmidt was injured when the rear end of his Treadway Racing G Force/Aurora crashed into the Turn 2 retaining wall. Airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center, he was diagnosed as a quadriplegic due to severe injuries on the C-3 and C-4 levels of his spinal cord.

Despite no longer being able to race, Schmidt created The Conquer Paralysis Now foundation in addition to Sam Schmidt Motorsports only 14 months after the accident. Paralyzed from the chest down, a combination of ever-evolving technology and Sam’s determination to find new modes of independence have seen him acquire a driver’s license, the first of its kind which allows him to drive a semi-autonomous vehicle.

“Stepping away from my ownership role with Arrow McLaren is bittersweet,” said Schmidt, 60, who resides with his family in Henderson, Nev. “This team has been my life’s work, growing from a dream into a competitor at the highest level. I’mendlessly grateful to the drivers, team members, partners and fans who made it all possible, and to McLaren for elevating the team’s potential.

“While I’m stepping back from ownership, my heart will always be with this team, and I’ll be cheering for its continued success every step of the way.”

A native of Hythe, Alberta, Canada now living in Calgary, Peterson joined Schmidt as co-owner in 2013 after a career that began with stock cars and open-wheel formula cars in the Toyota Atlantic Championship as well as Canadian CASCAR. As an entrepreneur, Peterson founded and developed companies for over 30 years.

“Since I joined Sam as co-owner in 2013, it’s been rewarding to see this team evolve,” Peterson said. “We welcomed Arrow as title partner in 2019, we joined forces with McLaren in 2021, we became a three-car NTT IndyCar Series team in 2023 and we celebrated many poles, podiums and wins in Indy Lights and INDYCAR throughout those years. This team has a strong foundation for success, and Sam and I are proud of where we leave it.”

McLaren Racing was founded by racing driver/engineer Bruce McLaren of New Zealand in 1963. McLaren was killed when his new McLaren M8D Can-Am car crashed during testing at Goodwood Circuit in England on June 2, 1970. He was 32-years-old.

The team entered its first Formula One race in 1966. McLaren since has won 21 F1 world championships, 189 F1 grand prixs, the Indianapolis 500 three times _ including 1974 and 1976 with Johnny Rutherford of Fort Worth, Texas _ and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in its first attempt.   

McLaren Racing competes across five platforms, including the NTT IndyCar Series with O’Ward, Californian Nolan Siegel and Christian Lundgaard of Denmark in Chevrolet-powered Dallaras.

McLaren’s lineup in the FIA Formula One World Championship features drivers Lando Norris of Great Britain and Oscar Piastriof Australia. McLaren competes in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship as the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team with British drivers Sam Bird and Taylor Barnard.

McLaren also competes in the F1 Academy with Driver Development program member Ella Lloyd of Great Britian. The team also competes in the F1 Sim Racing Championship as McLaren Shadow with Lucas Blakeley and Wilson Hughes, both of Scotland, and Alfie Butcher of Great Britain. 

FOX SPORTS’ 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES BROADCAST COVERAGE SCHEDULE

Sunday, March 2 _ Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. (FOX, noon)*

Sunday, March 23 _The Thermal Club, Thermal, Calif. (FOX, 3 p.m.)

Sunday, April 13 _ Streets of Long Beach, Calif. (FOX, 4:30 p.m.)

Sunday, May 4 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala. (FOX, 1:30 p.m.)

Saturday, May 10 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course (FOX, 4:30 p.m.)

Sunday, May 25 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oval (FOX, 10 a.m.)

Sunday, June 1 _ Streets of Detroit (FOX, 12:30 p.m.)

Sunday, June 15 _ World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill. (FOX, 3 p.m.)

Sunday, June 22 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis. (FOX, 3:30 p.m.)

Sunday, July 6 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington (FOX, 2 p.m.)

Saturday, July 12 _ Iowa Speedway, Newton, Race 1 (FOX, 5 p.m.)

Sunday, July 13 _ Iowa Speedway, Newton, Race 2 (FOX, 2 p.m.)

Sunday, July 20 _ Streets of Toronto, Canada (FOX, 2 p.m.)

Sunday, July 27 _ WeatherTech Raceway, Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif. (FOX, 3 p.m.)

Sunday, Aug. 10 _ Portland (Ore.) International Raceway (FOX, 3 p.m.)

Sunday, Aug. 24 _ The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wis. (FOX, 2 p.m.)

Sunday, Aug. 31 _ Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn. (2:30 p.m.)

*NOTE _ All times Eastern. Dates and times subject to change.

Final 2024 NTT IndyCar Series point standings _ 1, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, 544; 2, Colton Herta, Andretti Global, 513; 3, Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske, 505; 4, Will Power, Team Penske, 498; 5, Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren, 460; 6, Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, 456; 7, Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global, 420; 8, Josef Newgarden, Team Penske, 401; 9, Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Racing, 367; 10, Alexander Rossi, Arrow McLaren, 366;

11, Christian Lundgaard, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 312; 12, Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, 306; 13, Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing, 300; 14, Marcus Armstrong, Chip Ganassi Racing, 298; 15, Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global, 297; 16, Linus Lundqvist, Chip Ganassi Racing, 279;17, Romain Grosjean, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 260; 18, Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 251; 19, Pietro Fittipaldi, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 186; 20, Sting Ray Robb, A.J. Foyt Racing, 185;

21, Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing, 182; 22, Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing, 163; 23, Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren, 154; 24, David Malukas, Meyer Shank Racing, 148;25, Jack Harvey, Dale Coyne Racing, 143; 26, Conor Daly, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 119; 27, Augustin Canapino, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 109; 28, Theo Pourchaire, Arrow McLaren, 91; 29, Katherine Legge, Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing, 61; 30, Tom Blomqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, 46;

31, Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing, 45; 32, Toby Sowery, Dale Coyne Racing, 45; 33, Callum Ilott, Arrow McLaren, 39; 34, Luca Ghiotto, Dale Coyne Racing, 27; 35, Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing, 26; 36, Kyle Larson, Hendrickcars.com Arrow McLaren, 21; 37, Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 19; 38, Tristan Vautier, Dale Coyne Racing, 12; 39, Juri Vips, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 11; 40, Colin Braun, Dale Coyne Racing, 10;

41, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing-Cusick Motorsports, 6; 42, Hunter McElrea, Dale Coyne Racing, 6; 43, Marco Andretti, Andretti Herta with Marco & Curb Agajanian, 5.