An Indy 500 winner is rumored to be Arrow McLaren’s fourth entry for the 110th running of the race in 2026.
Back in July, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown teased “mega” plans for next year’s race. Brown revealed that he was in talks with a rookie driver, whose name he chose not to disclose, and mentioned that the team was planning an oval test for him. “We’ve got a trick up our sleeves, and it would be so cool if it happens. This one would be unreal,” Brown said. “It would be mega.”
While there has yet to be an official update from the team, it appears that 2013 IndyCar champion and 2014 Indy 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay has overtaken the rookie for the coveted fourth entry next year—a seat that Kyle Larson occupied in 2024 and 2025.
Reporter Marshall Pruett addressed a fan’s question on the RACER Mailbag about Hunter-Reay’s potential Indy 500 return in 2026—with Andretti Global’s fourth entry open following Marco Andretti’s retirement. “Andretti would have been wise to secure RHR’s Indy 500 services years ago, and would seemingly have a great seat to offer for 2026, but Captain America is expected to be wearing papaya orange next May in the fourth entry,” Pruett wrote.
The possibility of Ryan Hunter-Reay joining Arrow McLaren for the Greatest Spectacle of Racing has also been discussed by FOX reporter Kevin Lee on the Trackside podcast multiple times since the 2025 season ended in August.
Hunter-Reay retired from full-time IndyCar racing after the 2021 season, which was his 18th in the series. Over his career, he started more than 200 races, with the majority of his success coming while driving for Andretti Autosport (now Andretti Global), including his championship and Indy 500 victory. Since 2023, he has made one-off appearances at the premier race with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
Arrow McLaren will continue with its full-time lineup in 2026, featuring Pato O’Ward, Christian Lundgaard, and Nolan Siegel.
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### Two Racing Veterans Eyeing Indy 500 Return in 2026
Besides Ryan Hunter-Reay, two other racing veterans in their 40s are targeting a comeback at the 110th Indy 500 in 2026.
One is two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato. The Japanese driver recently participated in a two-day test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, evaluating new brake components for the 2026 IndyCar and a spec damper for the 2028 car. After day one of testing, Sato admitted he hopes to return to the Greatest Spectacle of Racing next year with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
Sato qualified on the front row for this year’s Indy 500 and finished in P9.
Another driver eyeing a return is Katherine Legge. Unable to secure a competitive seat for this year’s big race—which prompted her to consider a move to NASCAR—Legge is now in talks with both an IndyCar team and a NASCAR team about a potential dual racing schedule in 2026.
Legge has started the Indy 500 four times but has never finished higher than P22, which came in her debut. She recorded DNFs in her last two attempts with Dale Coyne Racing (2024) and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (2023).
https://www.sportskeeda.com/indycar/news-indy-500-winner-rumored-arrow-mclaren-s-4th-entry-2026