Brown: McLaren to create 'whole new team' for Indy 500

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McLaren CEO Zak Brown says a whole new 'McLaren Racing' entity will be created to manage the team's efforts at next year's Indy 500.

McLaren announced yesterday that it will be returning to the Brickyard next May with Fernando Alonso two years after its first attempt to win the legendary IndyCar event.

In 2017, McLaren partnered with Andretti Autosport and some form of collaboration with Michael Andretti's company is still expected next year, although the team will enter the race independently under the 'McLaren Racing' banner.

"This will be done by McLaren Racing," Brown told Racer.

"It’s a whole separate racing team that will be created and we are a large racing team with a lot of resources and I am extremely confident, or we would not have entered, that we can give maximum effort in our F1 effort as well as Indy without one compromising the other.

McLaren and Alonso to return to the Indy 500 in 2019!

"It is going to be people that are not currently on our Formula 1 team. It will be built up from relationships that we have. It’ll be a new McLaren entry.

"I don’t think we had an original plan. We’ve always had a desire to go as McLaren Racing," Brown added.

"Last time we did it on such short notice I think it would have been impossible, it was six weeks between announcing and racing, and you can’t build up a race team that quickly.

"So that was one of things the shareholders and ourselves wanted to do, to go as McLaren Racing.

"That is why we have made the announcement today to make time to bring those resources and the people in to have our own team."

McLaren's decision to set up its own structure could have one conclude that a full programme could be in the cards for 2020, a possibility Brown did not dismiss.

"Certainly we’ll be in a position where we are there with equipment, people and resources so it gives us a head start if ultimately we end up doing a full-time entry," said the McLaren boss.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.