Indy 500: Fan-favorite collaboration returns, bigger and better for 2022

After a successful 2021 Indy 500, Vuse and Arrow McLaren SP have elevated their partnership to bring design and innovation to IndyCar for a second straight year.

James Bond, founder of the one of the most recognized global sportswear brands UNDEFEATED, has joined the Arrow McLaren SP IndyCar team and partner Vuse again to elevate design collaboration across the team for the 106th running of the Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway next month, advancing the intersection of art and racing.

It was this partnership last year that led to Felix Rosenqvist’s unique tiger print-themed #7 Chevrolet for the 105th running of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”. Now Bond and UNDEFEATED have returned to bring this unique collaboration to all three cars.

In addition to Rosenqvist’s #7 Chevrolet, the #5 Chevrolet of Pato O’Ward and the #6 Chevrolet of two-time Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya are set to feature unique liveries for this year’s running of the 200-lap race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) oval in Speedway, Indiana.

Additionally, these designs are set to be showcased on the driver firesuits as well as the team garage.

Here is what Bond had to say about this collaboration.

"“Continuing our partnership with Arrow McLaren SP, and partner Vuse, for the second year to bring UNDEFEATED’s designs to racing canvases at the Indianapolis 500 is a huge opportunity for the brand and industry. I’m excited about the expanded design collaboration and to bring to life the UNDEFEATED vision across the Arrow McLaren SP team, unifying our brands on and off the racetrack during the month of May.”"

Unlike last year with the tiger print design, Bond and his team took an approach that incorporates an asymmetrical design across the team’s three cars. The colors used are each symbolic of the partners.

Take a look at the designs below.

Here is what Taylor Kiel, President of Arrow McLaren SP, had to add.

"“With the success of last year’s design, the team was ecstatic to welcome back this partnership between Arrow McLaren SP, Vuse, and UNDEFEATED to elevate our position on and off the track. Collaborating with a brand like Undefeated through innovation and art during IndyCar’s biggest moment of the year helps to bring the sport forward, drive creative innovation, and foster additional interest in the sport.”"

We had a chance to speak with both Rosenqvist and O’Ward about this collaboration, and both spoke very highly of it ahead of the month of May.

“Last year was – I remember it so well,” Rosenqvist told Beyond the Flag. “When we started pushing it out on our social media, there was like, I think in general, everyone was excited. But there were a lot of people like ‘I’m not sure’, but then when people saw it in reality and we had real pictures of it and everything came together like decals and stickers and logos and everything, the whole package was there, with the suit as well. I think everyone loved it.”

Rosenqvist led 14 laps in last year’s Indy 500, but an alternate fuel strategy did not pan out late, and he had to settle for a 27th place finish.

But the fans enjoyed seeing the tiger print livery at the front.

“I had so many people coming up to me during the month of May, just like, ‘Hey, I just want to say, you have the best-looking car.’ And it’s just like a unique livery,” he continued. “It’s just nice to look back at that livery, even now, like, ‘Hey, that was a very special design.’

“Going into this year, it’s a completely different design. It’s just as unique, but it’s a completely different thing with our original colors with the papaya and the blue, but now adding the green as well, which is kind of like the UNDEFEATED color. And I love it. I’ve always been a fan of green cars, and I couldn’t be more supportive of the livery we have. Even the other two cars, they look great as well. I think we have a pretty cool lineup going into the 500 with all three cars.”

O’Ward ran his regular livery for last year’s Indy 500 and finished in fourth place. He is excited that he too has an opportunity to take part in this collaboration in 2022.

“I think it’s awesome that all of the partners kind of hopped on board with what Vuse has brought to motorsports in general,” O’Ward told Beyond the Flag. “They’re bringing a lot of innovation and trying to kind of merge two very different worlds.

“I feel like after we all saw how cool the liveries were last year, it was really nice to see Arrow and Mission and everybody kind of like, ‘Yea, yea, let’s all do it!’ And each car has its colors, right? It’s all the same design, it’s all a swap of colors, but each car looks completely different, and I feel like that’s what’s going to make it so cool in such an iconic event.”