Another ex-Formula 1 driver eyeing IndyCar debut?

By Asher Fair | May 7, 2020

Jenson Button, McLaren, Formula 1 PHOTO CREDIT: ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images) /

2009 Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button is reportedly eyeing a potential IndyCar debut with Arrow McLaren SP during the 2020 season.

Several ex-Formula 1 drivers have made their IndyCar debuts and even competed full-time in America’s premier open-wheel racing series in recent years, and there are no signs of that slowing down anytime soon.

With Formula 1 team McLaren now involved in IndyCar full-time after forming a partnership with Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports to form Arrow McLaren SP, we could very well see additional ex-Formula 1 drivers making their IndyCar debuts in the near future, possible even this year.

The team have already confirmed that two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who made his IndyCar debut in the 2017 Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway via a partnership with McLaren and Andretti Autosport, is set to compete in this year’s Indy 500 alongside full-time drivers Patricio O’Ward and Oliver Askew in the team’s third car.

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Alonso had also reportedly been in the mix to compete in at least one other non-Indy 500 race throughout the year as well.

Now 2009 world champion Jenson Button could be in the mix to compete for the team in the very near future.

According to Motorsport, the former McLaren driver, who retired from full-time Formula 1 competition after the 2016 season, had been in talks with Arrow McLaren SP about driving their third car as soon as the race at Road America, which was and is still scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 21.

However, this is not as likely to happen now, according to McLaren CEO Zak Brown, because of the fact that IndyCar came out with a testing restriction amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"“I think IndyCar now has just come out with a testing restriction, so unfortunately that might make this year more difficult.”"

Brown acknowledged that IndyCar is far too difficult to just jump straight into without proper testing, and he noted that Button realizes this.

But it is not known whether or not driving for the team in a road course race could still potentially be an option for the 15-time Grand Prix winner later in the season, given the fact that the race at Road America is now just the second of 15 races on the schedule and the first of five road course races instead of the 10th of 17 races and fourth of seven road course races following a schedule overhaul due to the pandemic.

Also in the mix to compete for the team at some point in the near future is seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, who attended preseason testing as a guest of the team at Circuit of the Americas and had been slated to test for them at Barber Motorsports Park before the pandemic caused that to be canceled.

Johnson, who announced in November that the 2020 Cup Series season is set to be his last season as a full-time driver in the series, has stated that driving an IndyCar is still on his bucket list.

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Will the 2020 IndyCar season see the debut of Jenson Button at Arrow McLaren SP, or will that debut be put off until next year or beyond due to the current testing situation?