IndyCar: Is the McLaren-Arrow SPM-Chevrolet-Colton Herta rumor even feasible?

By Asher Fair | Aug 2, 2019

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MAY 24: James Hinchcliffe of Canada, driver of the #5 Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda during Carb Day for the 103rd Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 24, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /

For the 2020 IndyCar season, is the McLaren partnership rumor with Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and Chevrolet to sign Colton Herta even feasible?

It’s August, which, in the IndyCar world, has become synonymous with McLaren full-time rumors for the following season.

2019 has proven to be no exception.

A recent rumor has emerged that McLaren are looking to form a partnership with Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and Chevrolet to field two cars on a full-time basis next season with Colton Herta, the 19-year-old phenom who is currently in his rookie season driving for Harding Steinbrenner Racing, as one of their two drivers.

The fact that Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team co-owner Sam Schmidt has confirmed his interest in Herta and has confirmed that this rumor is not completely unfounded is kind of a big deal considering how McLaren still have not fielded a full-time IndyCar entry despite there being rumors that they would do so ahead of both the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

But is such a situation even remotely feasible?

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In short, not for the 2020 season, and there are several reasons why.

Still upset over how McLaren handled their three-year partnership in Formula 1 from 2015 to 2017, Honda have no intent to provide engine support to the team in not only IndyCar but in anything for the foreseeable future.

We saw evidence of that this season when McLaren were forced to go with Chevrolet engines and form a partnership with Carlin for the Indianapolis 500. Two years ago, they went with Honda engines and formed a partnership with Andretti Autosport for this race, and this resulted in a much greater extent of speed and success.

This year, they couldn’t even qualify for the race with two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso as their driver.

That’s where this rumor gets very, very interesting.

As a result, such a partnership would have to involve Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports switching engine manufacturer from Honda to Chevrolet to prevent things from getting very complicated.

However, the team’s contract with Honda does not expire until the end of the 2020 season, and James Hinchcliffe’s contract with the team does not expire until that time.

Even people completely unfamiliar with IndyCar recognize Hinchcliffe for one of two reasons: (1) his participation on Dancing with the Stars, or (2) his appearances in various Honda commercials.

Hinchcliffe hasn’t driven a Chevrolet-powered IndyCar since his second of three seasons at Andretti Autosport back in 2013 before they realigned with Honda ahead of the 2014 season, and he has driven a Honda-powered car for Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports since the 2015 season.

While Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team co-owner Sam Schmidt confirmed his interest in Herta and that the rumors about the team partnering with McLaren aren’t completely unfounded, he maintained that his team has another year left on their contract with Honda and that Honda cannot be associated with McLaren.

Here is what Schmidt had to say about the matter, according to NBC Sports.

"“We are very interested in Colton Herta. He is a very talented, young driver…Again, we have another year on our contract with Honda. The company has stated perfectly clear they can’t be associated with (McLaren CEO) Zak Brown or McLaren, so I think that alienates us from that program.”"

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McLaren to IndyCar rumors pertaining to a full-time entry for the team are nothing new and have, in fact, dominated headlines around this time in each of the last three years, so it would surprise absolutely nobody if the 2020 season rolls around and they are not on the entry list, especially given what Sam Schmidt had to say about his team’s deal with Honda.

But the basis for a potential future partnership certainly exists, specifically looking at the 2021 season, if Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports decide to switch their engine manufacturer to Chevrolet. Additionally, if Honda are ever willing to come around and support McLaren again, it would make things a whole lot simpler.

However, under the current situation, it’s simply not feasible unless some kind of unexpected contract or relationship change occurs.