29 January 2026 00:00 (UTC)
"I think we're already there. We just have to get it done."
Over the past two days, every IndyCar driver and team gathered at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis for the series' annual Content Days.
The event offered a chance for partners and sponsors to collect promotional footage of the drivers to be used throughout the sesaon.
The drivers also chat with media about the year ahead. Let's take a look behind the scenes and see what Pato, Nolan and Christian said about their 2026 outlook.
After finishing second in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship in 2025, Pato spoke about taking the next step in 2026:
"(We) Just have to keep on building on what we've been able to accomplish. We don't want to stay static. We always want to move forward. Even if it's a small step, we want to make sure we don't stay where we're at. We always want to go better. That's what we tend to do every single year. I believe that we've come to a point where that big step to getting that (Indy) 500, getting championship, we're right there... I think we're already there. We just have to get it done."
He also discussed the team's new race shop - the McLaren Racing Center (MRC) - and how he's seen the team grow over the past six years:
"It feels like we're going from a studio apartment to the penthouse considering where we were. Obviously in terms of atmosphere and motivation, we're surrounded by just an HQ that's a lot cooler. It excites you to go to work every day. You see the pictures and you see what we've been able to accomplish so far and so much more that we want to accomplish. All of that means something even if it's not like right in your face. It's in your subconscious every day that you walk through there and see that. I think it's coming at the perfect time... It really is a cool part not just for me being able to see the journey of what the team was six years ago, this is my seventh season, I've been a part of that and they've been a part of my growth as well. That's been very, very cool to see."
Nolan reflected on learnings from an up-and-down 2025 season and how he can leverage that experience in 2026:
"We had a lot of weekends where the pace was actually really good (last season). Just the execution wasn't quite there in a lot of different ways. For me, it's been a learning experience being a part of such a big team and being a leader in that team. I think I've kind of grown in that role and gotten better in that role. That's been a challenge, but something I've kind of embraced and really tried to learn from my more experienced teammates and Tony... I think from an actual driving standpoint, in INDYCAR there are very critical phases of the races. Some phases where you can kind of chill and save fuel, save tires, save yourself, then portions of the race during pit sequences where you really have to push. That's where you really make a difference. For me, kind of understanding when those critical phases are I think is important and something that I learned in 2025. There were a couple races where we lost some ground just from me kind of not reading the race properly from in the car. I've reviewed all of that and I think that I can make big gains there for 2026."
He also spoke about staying confident despite a challneging 2025 campaign:
"On my end, I don't necessarily think it's a confidence issue. I've raced a lot of different things, been successful in a lot of different things. I don't think there's any reason that can't be the case in INDYCAR. I certainly have great people around me to help me make that happen. I'm very optimistic for 2026 and confident about 2026. Again, there's absolutely no reason that we can't be successful together. From my end, I think it's knowing what I need to fix and having very clear goals I think helps me mentally. I think the hardest thing and the most stressful thing is not performing and not knowing why. But I think that we've analyzed a lot and actually do know and have things that need to be fixed. Those are attainable goals. We have very, very achievable things to fix from 2025 that will immediately increase the performance. That increases my confidence and makes me really excited for 2026."
Christian produced a dominant first season in Papaya in 2025, collecting six podiums and finishing fifth in the championship. At Content Day, ahead of his second season with Arrow McLaren, he spoke about what he's looking to accomplish this year:
"Being better. I think ultimately for me, not necessarily trying to take a swing at it, but continue the progression, keep learning, keep getting better. I think we gained a good momentum on ovals throughout the year last year. Obviously the (Indy) 500 was the first race for me in the Arrow McLaren on the oval. A lot to learn. We gained a lot of traction throughout the year. I don't think we need to do much on road courses other than master the basics and just continue moving forward."
He also discussed his plan for continuting to improve on oval circuits:
"I think where we ended the 2025 season on ovals I think is really where we want to carry on from. I've done a lot of work at home in the simulator just doing laps because at the end of the day it's the only thing we really can do. We've had a lot of meetings within the team on what do we need, what do I need, as a group, which direction do we need to take, setup, for it to help more. Again, it's really just a progression. You can't jump from A to F from one year. You really have to take it in small increments. I think that's what the 2025 season was really for. As I said before, the (Indy) 500 was the first race last year and it's the one that counts the most. This year we have Phoenix before. I think looking at where we are in Phoenix will really determine where I am, where the team is, in May."
Ryan, who will compete for Arrow McLaren in the team's fourth entry at the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 in May, spoke about how his deal to join the teame came together:
"It came together just very, very quickly. It came down to one thing, which I love, within the whole team. It's just about winning and getting better and winning. There was no emphasis on let's make this some PR splash type of deal. This is all about going to the Indy 500, having as many cars as possible with the best chance at winning at the biggest race in the world, and that's the only thing that matters to me, as well. The atmosphere within the team is pumping, and yeah, really good timing. I'm really happy to be a part of that program."
He also discussed what attracted him to Arrow McLaren and how his team onboarding process has gone thus far:
"It's funny, when you've driven for 10 different INDYCAR teams you know a lot of people in them. My boss (Tony Kanaan) is my ex-teammate and good friend and the team manager was my team manager at Andretti. It's just all the same kind of characters, and it's great. They're really good characters, too. You see where Arrow McLaren has been the last few years on a trend and where they're going, and now this past year they were Chevy's strongest team. It's all headed in that direction. They've come so close. We kind of have the same story in that regard. It's a group of very, very switched-on, hungry individuals that want to make sure, for lack of better terms, they make up for opportunities lost in the past."
