Progress Update: Construction of New McLAREN Racing Center Enters Final Stage
“We look forward to applying the final touches this month and kicking off this new era for Arrow McLaren in 2026!”
As preparations continue for the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, Arrow McLaren is approaching the finish line of its largest offseason project.
In July, the team began the process of expanding and modernizing a newly acquired facility in Indianapolis off Zionsville Road. Five months later, Dillon Construction Group crews are putting the finishing touches on the McLaren Racing Center (MRC), the team’s new official headquarters set to open in January.
Over the next three-plus weeks, construction crews will be focused on installing interior surface finishes, including final paint, tiling, flooring and ceiling grids. Meanwhile, team members are currently moving and staging equipment for installation in the new shop.
The renovation and expansion project added 11,000 square feet to the original structure, bringing the building’s total footprint to 86,000 square feet, nearly triple the size of Arrow McLaren’s current race shop. The project is on track to finish by its December 31 target date and has hit numerous checkpoints along the way:
McLaren Racing Center timeline:
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July 1: Secured keys to facility
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July 7: Demolition began
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July 31: Mezzanine constructed
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October 15: 20-plus new windows cut and installed
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November 30: Drywall complete
Upcoming:
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December 15-19: All heavy equipment will be moved in and installed
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December 31: Renovations to be completed
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January 5: Team members officially move in
“We could not be more excited to move into the McLaren Racing Center next month. This move will transform the way we go racing, the way our teammates work and the way we engage with our partners and the Indianapolis community. The team has invested a significant amount of time and effort on this project, and to put all the planning into action over the past five-plus months has been very gratifying. We look forward to applying the final touches this month and kicking off this new era for Arrow McLaren in 2026!”
Kevin Thimjon
President, Arrow McLaren
The new race shop will give Arrow McLaren employees much needed additional space to operate, transitioning from its current 33,000 square-foot on Coffman Road — formerly the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports shop.
Since rejoining the NTT INDYCAR SERIES on a full-time basis in 2020, Arrow McLaren has expanded steadily increasing its entries on the grid and overall head count from approximately 30 employees to more than 120. The new race shop is the team’s logical next step as it cements its commitment to IndyCar competition and continues to grow.
Key areas: construction progress photos
In addition to giving team members more physical space, the new shop renovations feature some key upgrades, including:
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An expanded lobby
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A second-floor mezzanine extension
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A state-of-the-art fitness and recovery center
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An elevator for greater accessibility
Upon entering the MRC, employees and visitors will be greeted by a striking lobby. The eye-catching entrance will include a sweeping staircase alongside displayed McLaren Indy and Formula 1 show cars on the lobby floor.
The entrance staircase leads to the building’s new second floor mezzanine. This expansive area will include a trophy case at the top of the stairs, office space for the commercial team and a break room / event space that seats 70-plus people with a viewing window overlooking the shop floor.
The MRC will also feature a new state-of-the-art fitness and recovery center. The fitness area will include new Sorenix strength equipment, and the recovery section will contain a sauna, two ice baths and locker rooms.
All renovation and construction work on the MRC will be completed by the end of the month with employees scheduled to begin work in the building on Monday, January 5, 2026.
