Latest news with #KyleMoyer
Fox News
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- Fox News
McLaren Boss Zak Brown Believes F1 Blueprint Can Lift INDYCAR Team
Zak Brown has built a Formula 1 team that has emerged as the team to beat in the world's most prominent racing circuit. Now, the McLaren Racing CEO is attempting to use the same blueprint to build his INDYCAR program into an organization that can have a similar stature to the McLaren Formula 1 program. But at least one question remains: Is that blueprint applicable for a series that has more limitations when it comes to team control of body style and engines? "One-hundred percent [the same] and it's all people," Brown said earlier this month. "It's about having the right people, getting the right people on the bus." As Brown has found, it will take time. He's brought people on the bus. He's thrown them off (see former team principal Gavin Ward). He now has former driver Tony Kanaan running the program. Kanaan was quite popular during his driving days. He brought in driver Christian Lundgaard to replace Alexander Rossi, and Lundgaard has nine top-10 finishes and is fourth in the standings (Rossi had 11 top 10s last year and was 10th in the standings). And Nolan Siegel, in his first full season, has had the inconsistency one would expect of a rookie. Brown recently added Kyle Moyer as competition director after Moyer was let go as part of the Team Penske technical violation issues over the last two seasons. The team will also move into a new, bigger shop in January. This shop will increase the work space from their current 33,000 square feet to 86,000 square feet. "[It's] having the resources, the equipment, the technology, the driver," Brown said. "So I feel like we have everything, but we're young, and we can't stretch our elbows because we're not in a workshop that fits our goals and desires from an investment like in technology and things of that nature. "We're a big three-car team that's in a small two-car shop. With that, we've got buildings all over the place where there's storage units and paint shops, and that's not an ideal environment to work in." With two wins this year, Pato O'Ward sits second in the standings. Lundgaard is fifth. Siegel — who missed a race with a concussion — is 21st. Brown insists he's not making a run at Will Power, the Penske veteran who is still unsigned for next year. There has been speculation that McLaren could be interested. "I've heard everything you've heard," Brown said. "I've got the same drivers next year." Driver stability has not been something Brown has enjoyed on his INDYCAR program. Going back a few years, he had Alex Palou signed before Palou decided he would stay at Ganassi. In the wake of that was McLaren's $31 million lawsuit against Palou. Palou has admitted a breach of contract and a trial is scheduled for late September and October to determine how much Palou owes McLaren. David Malukas was signed by McLaren prior to the 2024 season but then a mountain biking accident resulted in a wrist injury and McLaren opted to release Malukas before he ever drove a race for the team. That resulted in a couple of reserve drivers until the team signed Siegel, who was running well in Indy NXT. "I am happy we've kind of had a year or two of driver stability. That was extremely disruptive, even more so than I would have even thought," Brown said. "It's just what I spent all my time on. "So it's good that that's kind of behind us. It's not totally behind us, but it's behind us from a distraction factor." Brown believes they are the best they have been and have room to grow. The team is the former Sam Schmidt-owned team that McLaren initially merged with more than five years ago. "I feel like we've got everything we need," Brown said. "Now we need to gel as a team, continue to drive the culture forward. I think where the team came from, it was like midfield mentality ... [and] we now have the culture of the team and the mindset of anything kind of short of podiums and going for the win is kind of a disappointment. "We've shifted from we're kind of happy to be there and get the occasional good result to we're here to win championships and Indy 500s. So you can see the team taking a step forward in their expectations of themselves, which is how a Penske and Ganassi and Andretti show up every weekend — with the intention of winning and anything kind of short of that is a bit disappointed." That doesn't mean Brown looks at 2026 as the year his organization will be on top. "Of course, we want to run for the championship next year," Brown said. "But reality is, I think we'll be stronger in '27 than we are in '26 because we're only moving into the shop at the end of '25. "These new hires have just started, so I think '26 is another year of gelling before I feel like '27 will be it." Brown says that because he thinks they just need time. "We've got drivers that can win the championship," Brown said. "I think we've got equipment, technology, the level of sponsorship that you need. I think we've got everything, but it takes time. No different in a relationship. You know someone for a week versus 10 years in. You can look at each other [and know]. "We just need a little bit of time to bring everything together, where the right foot knows what the left foot is doing, and they can get to a point where they can look at each other and communicate, versus having to communicate." One thing Brown got to experience for the first time came recently when he was in attendance for an O'Ward win at Toronto. It was the first time he was at a victory since McLaren took over the team. "It's the first one he's ever been there in the flesh," O'Ward said. "That was really cool." Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
Forbes
29-06-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
IndyCar's Nolan Siegel Looks To Improve With New Race Boss Kyle Moyer
Nolan Siegel at Road America. Young Arrow McLaren IndyCar driver Nolan Siegel admitted last weekend at Road America that he didn't really know much about his new race strategist Kyle Moyer. The 20-year-old from Palo Alto, California got to know his new boss during a busy test session at Iowa Speedway on June 25 that featured 21 cars and drivers in a test session that lasted until 9 p.m. Eastern Time. Siegel looks forward to working with a new voice on the radio calling his race strategy. As noted last week on Forbes Sports Money, former Team Penske INDYCAR General Manager Kyle Moyer has joined Arrow McLaren as the Director of Operations. He will also work with Siegel as his race strategist. 'I've never met Kyle (Moyer),' Siegel said after finishing eighth at Road America on June 22. 'I've heard of him, and I've known of him, and I'm very, very excited to get to work with him. 'I think that's a huge pleasure and a huge learning opportunity for me. I couldn't be more excited. So, we're going to have a really strong group of people on the stand with Scott Harner going to kind of an advisory role. We're going to have a lot more experience on the stand. And I think it's going to be great. 'And again, it's nice to kind of leave this weekend on a high with everyone in good spirits. Kyle's going to come and in and I think that this could be a turnaround for us for the rest of the year.' Arrow McLaren Team Principal Tony Kanaan. Reunited Again Digging deeper into Arrow McLaren team principal Tony Kanaan's decision to bring Moyer on board, it was an opportunity Kanaan had to take. It was also a chance for Moyer and Kanaan to be reunited. The two worked together at what was then known as Andretti Green Racing when Kanaan won the 2004 IndyCar Series title. Moyer was a key part of that team before he left for Team Penske in 2015. 'Talk about how our history together, it's unbelievable,' Kanaan told me at Road America. 'Everything that I won, that guy was in my car. So that wasn't something that I was expecting to have. 'And honestly, I'm pretty happy about it. It's pretty good to see. 'He was my strategist strategy and my team manager at the same time. I think that's something that what that race has given me for a lot of good friends. 'You know you've been around as long as I've been but also, He was part of the most successful part of my life, so it's hard not to go back and he's still involved. 'I'm still involved to say, 'Why not try to do it again?'' Kyle Moyer Moyer was one of three key Team Penske executives that was dismissed before the Indianapolis 500 because of a technical rules infraction during qualifications. Because it was the second penalty in as many years including the 'push to pass scandal' from 2024, team owner Roger Penske dismissed the team's IndyCar President Tim Cindric, Managing Director Ron Ruzewski and Moyer. 'I've never questioned anybody's integrity,' Kanaan said. 'We all know that at the end of the day it takes a team, and not once did it cross my mind because I know Kyle really well so that was never even a debate.' Kanaan has spent much of his time working with young Nolan Siegel at Arrow McLaren. He believes having a different voice to work with the young driver will help his overall development and that is why he thinks Moyer is the right guy for that role. 'One hundred percent and I think Kyle is a way more experienced than me in so many ways,' Kanaan said. 'I'm trying to give Nolan as big of a support as I can. 'Obviously, he came in the middle of the season, so it was kind of like a way to put him there to take a look where he didn't work with Scott Harner as well and give Nolan a little bit of a bump. But as young as this kid is any help he can get it would definitely make him better.' Arrow McLaren General Manager Brian Barnhart. Another key member of Arrow McLaren that strongly supports bringing Moyer to the team is General Manager Brian Barnhart. He has worked with Moyer in various capacities throughout his career and is impressed with Moyer's accomplishments and approach. 'Oh, that's a steal of the century mid-season, that's for sure, so we're really happy,' Barnhart told me. 'Clearly, we weren't planning on something like that in season, so you take advantage of that opportunity when it gets presented to you, but Kyle is an exceptional leader, he's a great delegator, a genuine good person, really good communicator, just got a lot of common sense, so he'll make this race team better for sure. 'I think if anything it gives TK the ability to focus more on the stuff that he's doing as team principal and out of the role on the timing stand a little bit, so I think that's why it'll probably be helpful.' The one area that Barnhart is uncertain about, however, is the chain of command at Arrow McLaren and how a newly created Director of Operations will line up with the current organizational structure. 'It's one of those things to be honest with you, we don't wholly know yet, because it's one of them that you weren't planning on,' Barnhart said. 'It's not like we had a position, so we're just going to kind of make it fit and go along as we see what the best fit's going to be once he gets here.' As for Siegel's week, he was reprimanded by the team for unleashing a tirade against Team Penske during a fit of rage at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at Worldwide Technology Raceway, that got him a stern lecture from Kanaan and other members at Arrow McLaren. Siegel accepted the punishment and apologized to all involved last week. It culminated with a strong eighth-place effort at Road America in IndyCar's most recent race. 'Nice to move on from everything from last week ended on a high,' Siegel said. 'And this has been a much-needed weekend. 'You know, nothing's gone wrong this weekend. We've had a good smooth Saturday. We had a smooth Sunday. Eighth isn't ultimately, like the end goal, right? But it's something that we can build off of. And we've had a lot of bad weeks where everyone leaves upset, and it's just not a good feeling, and it's nice to kind of turn that around. And I think until you have a weekend like this, to turn it around, it's very hard to get out of that slump.' Siegel and Arrow McLaren move on to the next race on the NTT IndyCar Series schedule, the July 6 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio in Steam Corners, Ohio. The second-year IndyCar driver is 20th in points with eight races remaining in the season. Nolan Siegel and Kyle Moyer are determined to make an improvement in the final half of the 2025 season. Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren
Forbes
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Former Team Penske GM Kyle Moyer Returns To IndyCar With Arrow McLaren
Kyle Moyer at the 2024 Indianapolis 500 Victory Awards Ceremony (Photo by Joe Skibinski | IMS Photo) One of the three Team Penske executives that was dismissed before last month's 109th Indianapolis 500 has already landed a job with another NTT IndyCar Series Team. It's Kyle Moyer, a highly respected IndyCar team executive most recently with Team Penske. Moyer is reunited with Tony Kanaan, 21 years after the two worked together during Kanaan's championship season in 2004 at what was then Andretti Green Racing. Kanaan, now the Team Principal at Arrow McLaren, has hired Moyer as the team's Director of Competition and begins his new role next week when the team tests at Iowa Speedway. Moyer was most recently a key member of Team Penske, serving as the IndyCar General Manager of Roger Penske's team but was one of three executives who were dismissed over a technical rules violation before qualifications for the 109th Indianapolis 500 in May. Also dismissed for illegally modifying the rear attenuator was Team Penske IndyCar President Tim Cindric and the team's IndyCar Managing Director Ron Ruzewski. Kanaan and Moyer worked together for years when both were at what is now Andretti Global. Moyer left that team in 2015 to join Team Penske. Moyer has more than 30 years of experience in the motorsports industry and was in his 11th season with Team Penske in 2025. In 2019, Moyer moved into the role of General Manager for Team Penske's Chevrolet-backed NTT IndyCar Series program. In addition to overseeing the IndyCar team at Team Penske, Moyer was also the race strategist for Team Penske's No. 3 Chevrolet driven by Scott McLaughlin. Impressive Resume Moyer joined Team Penske just prior to the 2015 IndyCar Series season. Since coming on board, Team Penske has won the Indianapolis 500 on five occasions and also produced four IndyCar Series championships. Prior to joining Team Penske, Moyer served as the Director of Operations at Andretti Global, where he oversaw the team's IndyCar program. Before he joined the Andretti organization, Moyer worked at Forsythe-Green Racing. In 1995, he enjoyed a breakout year with driver Jacques Villeneuve serving as his crew chief while they captured the Indianapolis 500 and the CART Series championship. While working at Galles-Kraco Racing from 1989-1992, Moyer was part of the first of many Indianapolis 500 wins during the course of his career. Moyer began his career in motorsports at Gary Bettenhausen's race shop in Monrovia, Indiana and he did everything at the shop ranging from sweeping the shop floor to working on Bettenhausen's sprint car. From 1980-1983, Moyer served on the pit crew for Bettenhausen, and he almost missed his high school graduation as he helped Gary Bettenhausen qualify a Lindsey Hopkins car for the Indianapolis 500. At Arrow McLaren, Moyer will replace Kanaan as the race strategist for Nolan Siegel, allowing Kanaan to work with all three Arrow McLaren drivers on race weekends. Kanaan told the Associated Press that almost every team in the paddock tried to hire Moyer, but the relationship the two of them have gave McLaren the edge. 'Kyle is one of the best strategists in the paddock, so talking about his qualities, not just about him as a human being, he knows a lot about racing,' Kanaan told the AP. 'Kyle probably is one of the top guys of knowledge of IndyCar. He's been around it his entire life.' Moyer grew up in Monrovia, Indiana, and was brought into the sport by the Bettenhausen family. As one Team Penske team member told me Saturday at Road America, it was a matter of when Moyer would return to the IndyCar Paddock, but which team would land his services. His longtime relationship with Kanaan proved to be a key factor in joining Arrow McLaren. Although Moyer was one of three Team Penske executives who was dismissed because of the latest scandal that hit the operation, many members inside the IndyCar paddock believe Moyer was highly respected and did not deserve to be dismissed. But after Team Penske was hit with another rules violation just one year after the 'push-to-pass' scandal, Penske believed a severe message had to be sent to protect the integrity of the series and avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest. Since November 4, 2019, Penske also owns the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar and the Indianapolis 500.
Washington Post
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- Washington Post
From scandal to strategy: Kyle Moyer's new role at Arrow McLaren Racing
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kyle Moyer, one of the three Team Penske executives fired during an Indianapolis 500 scandal, has been hired by Arrow McLaren Racing and will be with the IndyCar team this coming week for a test session at Iowa Speedway. Moyer was hand-selected to join McLaren by team principal Tony Kanaan. The two won the 2004 IndyCar championship together at Andretti Global. Moyer was Kanaan's team manager at the time. At McLaren, Moyer will be the director of competition and assist Scott Harner, who is the director of race operations. He will also replace Kanaan as strategist for Nolan Siegel, freeing Kanaan to work on race day with all three McLaren drivers. Moyer's official start date is June 30. Kanaan said almost the entire industry tried to hire Moyer after his May firing at Penske, but the previous relationship between Moyer and Kanaan gave McLaren the edge. 'Kyle is one of the best strategists in the paddock, so talking about his qualities, not just about him as a human being, he knows a lot about racing,' Kanaan told The Associated Press. 'Kyle probably is one of the top guys of knowledge of IndyCar — he's been around it his entire life. 'And Kyle is a people person, he's that kind of guy that captivates people and people want to work for Kyle,' Kanaan continued. 'At the same time, he is very direct and he will call you out and he makes it so every person I've ever seen working for Kyle wanted to work for Kyle. That's something that I experienced in my career and that is probably the biggest thing. The respect that I have for the guy is unbelievable.' Moyer's popularity was evident when Penske driver Scott McLaughlin lashed out after the trio of firings ahead of the Indy 500 . Moyer was let go along with team president Tim Cindric, a 25-year Penske employee, and managing director Ron Ruzewski. Moyer was Penske's general manager of the IndyCar program and the strategist for McLaughlin's car. The firings followed the discovery that the cars of Josef Newgarden and Will Power had illegally modified rear attenuators; Cindric said seams on the safety part had been sealed for aesthetic purposes, but the rulebook clearly stated no alterations could be made to the part. It was the second major technical violation for Penske cars in just over a year and team owner Roger Penske was left with no choice but to fire his top three executives. Penske owns the three-car race team, the IndyCar Series, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500. 'Ultimately, those three guys are friends of mine and have done a tremendous amount in my career to get me to this point,' McLaughlin said in May after the firings. 'I guess you could say there's a sadness from my perspective. At the end of the day I drive for Roger Penske. I respect the decision. I understand the decision. We move forward.' Kanaan said he was shocked that Moyer did not have a non-compete clause and was available to McLaren immediately. He believes Moyer will be a help to Siegel, the 20-year-old in his first full season of IndyCar. Siegel heads into Sunday's race at Road America in Wisconsin ranked 21st in the standings. Moyer will eventually relocate from North Carolina, where Penske is based, to Indianapolis for his role with McLaren. ___ AP auto racing:
Associated Press
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
From scandal to strategy: Kyle Moyer's new role at Arrow McLaren Racing
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kyle Moyer, one of the three Team Penske executives fired during an Indianapolis 500 scandal, has been hired by Arrow McLaren Racing and will be with the IndyCar team this coming week for a test session at Iowa Speedway. Moyer was hand-selected to join McLaren by team principal Tony Kanaan. The two won the 2004 IndyCar championship together at Andretti Global. Moyer was Kanaan's team manager at the time. At McLaren, Moyer will be the director of competition and assist Scott Harner, who is the director of race operations. He will also replace Kanaan as strategist for Nolan Siegel, freeing Kanaan to work on race day with all three McLaren drivers. Moyer's official start date is June 30. Kanaan said almost the entire industry tried to hire Moyer after his May firing at Penske, but the previous relationship between Moyer and Kanaan gave McLaren the edge. 'Kyle is one of the best strategists in the paddock, so talking about his qualities, not just about him as a human being, he knows a lot about racing,' Kanaan told The Associated Press. 'Kyle probably is one of the top guys of knowledge of IndyCar — he's been around it his entire life. 'And Kyle is a people person, he's that kind of guy that captivates people and people want to work for Kyle,' Kanaan continued. 'At the same time, he is very direct and he will call you out and he makes it so every person I've ever seen working for Kyle wanted to work for Kyle. That's something that I experienced in my career and that is probably the biggest thing. The respect that I have for the guy is unbelievable.' Moyer's popularity was evident when Penske driver Scott McLaughlin lashed out after the trio of firings ahead of the Indy 500. Moyer was let go along with team president Tim Cindric, a 25-year Penske employee, and managing director Ron Ruzewski. Moyer was Penske's general manager of the IndyCar program and the strategist for McLaughlin's car. The firings followed the discovery that the cars of Josef Newgarden and Will Power had illegally modified rear attenuators; Cindric said seams on the safety part had been sealed for aesthetic purposes, but the rulebook clearly stated no alterations could be made to the part. It was the second major technical violation for Penske cars in just over a year and team owner Roger Penske was left with no choice but to fire his top three executives. Penske owns the three-car race team, the IndyCar Series, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500. 'Ultimately, those three guys are friends of mine and have done a tremendous amount in my career to get me to this point,' McLaughlin said in May after the firings. 'I guess you could say there's a sadness from my perspective. At the end of the day I drive for Roger Penske. I respect the decision. I understand the decision. We move forward.' Kanaan said he was shocked that Moyer did not have a non-compete clause and was available to McLaren immediately. He believes Moyer will be a help to Siegel, the 20-year-old in his first full season of IndyCar. Siegel heads into Sunday's race at Road America in Wisconsin ranked 21st in the standings. Moyer will eventually relocate from North Carolina, where Penske is based, to Indianapolis for his role with McLaren. ___ AP auto racing:
