McLaren has announced that former Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley has been hired to lead the team's 2019 IndyCar programme, with immediate effect.
Fernley has been forced to step down last summer from his management role at Force India following the outfit's takeover by a consortium of investors led by Lawrence Stroll.
A hard-working and experienced figure in F1, Fernley moves on to a new chapter of his motorsport career in tandem with McLaren.
The 51-year-old will report directly to McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, and "build and lead a technical team entirely focused on the 2019 Indy 500, while helping to evaluate the feasibility of a longer-term McLaren involvement in IndyCar".
"Bob is a fantastic operator and someone I respect greatly," said Brown.
"His experience and leadership will be essential for us on this project. He is particularly talented at putting effective teams together and extracting maximum performance with finite resources.
"The Indy 500 is no easy race and Bob’s is a key role, so I’m delighted he’s on board."
Fernley admitted he had a big task ahead, but the new McLaren IndyCar president is determined to succeed.
"Heading back to The Brickyard will be a very special experience for me and I am proud to be leading this McLaren project and team," said Fernley.
"The 500 is a hell of a challenge and we have incredibly strong competitors to overcome if we’re to be successful. We will need to prepare well for the month of May and that work starts now."
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