Keep in mind that McLaren has two Indy 500 winners, Tony Kanaan and Ryan Hunter-Reay, on the management staff. So Marshall's claim is not far-fetched. McLaren will also compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the Hypercar class. So, it's possible that the brand could win the Triple Crown (Monaco, Indy, and Le Mans), without competing against Ganassi for IndyCar titles (at least until the new car arrives). Regarding the lawsuit, Palou ultimately drove for Ganassi, but Palou LOST the lawsuit and has to compensate McLaren with $12 million. So, Zak Brown's possible revenge is more awkward.
Right, I remember that. I guess I misremembered. I don't think I'm wrong that this was largely revenge for McLaren losing Palou, though. Even if McLaren is launching a Hypercar team, there are SO MANY Hypercar teams now that if Dixon is trying to win at Le Mans, he could probably pretty easily land a top-tier Hypercar ride whenever he wanted, and I don't see why he would need to sign with McLaren's IndyCar team to do that. Plenty of washed-up IndyCar drivers like Sébastien Bourdais, average ones like Callum Ilott, or shitty ones like Mick Schumacher got Hypercar rides. Even though Dixon is basically washed up as an IndyCar driver, I kind of think teams would be fighting for his services if he wanted a WEC ride, so that's a weird excuse. And who's to say McLaren will hit the setup? Wouldn't it be better for him to target a Hypercar team that is already fighting for race wins?
Kanaan was certainly a very Indy-centric fellow and I know he was instrumental in signing Malukas in the first place when Zak Brown didn't seem to want him, but RHR... he wasn't even good at Indy particularly. Yeah, he got a win, but he did so in a year the Andretti cars were so dominant that Marco, Muñoz, and Kurt on his debut (none of whom were exactly world-beaters as IndyCar drivers) finished 3rd, 4th, and 6th. And Marco was a better driver at Indy than RHR tbh.
I am referring to the possibility that McLaren wants the Triple Crown, not that Dixon will drive for them at Le Mans. Yes, winning in Le Mans is difficult since there are more brands than ever in endurance, unless you get lucky with the Balance of Performance (in fact, since this year, we don't know the values for each race to avoid "speculations"...) Definitely and seeing the McLaren F1 team chemistry (and more compared to IndyCar program), its more possible winning the Monaco Gp than Indy than Le Mans.
I also didn't think your Zak Brown theory was wrong. In fact, he has brought several Ganassi personnel to McLaren in recent years.
Keep in mind that McLaren has two Indy 500 winners, Tony Kanaan and Ryan Hunter-Reay, on the management staff. So Marshall's claim is not far-fetched. McLaren will also compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the Hypercar class. So, it's possible that the brand could win the Triple Crown (Monaco, Indy, and Le Mans), without competing against Ganassi for IndyCar titles (at least until the new car arrives). Regarding the lawsuit, Palou ultimately drove for Ganassi, but Palou LOST the lawsuit and has to compensate McLaren with $12 million. So, Zak Brown's possible revenge is more awkward.
Right, I remember that. I guess I misremembered. I don't think I'm wrong that this was largely revenge for McLaren losing Palou, though. Even if McLaren is launching a Hypercar team, there are SO MANY Hypercar teams now that if Dixon is trying to win at Le Mans, he could probably pretty easily land a top-tier Hypercar ride whenever he wanted, and I don't see why he would need to sign with McLaren's IndyCar team to do that. Plenty of washed-up IndyCar drivers like Sébastien Bourdais, average ones like Callum Ilott, or shitty ones like Mick Schumacher got Hypercar rides. Even though Dixon is basically washed up as an IndyCar driver, I kind of think teams would be fighting for his services if he wanted a WEC ride, so that's a weird excuse. And who's to say McLaren will hit the setup? Wouldn't it be better for him to target a Hypercar team that is already fighting for race wins?
Kanaan was certainly a very Indy-centric fellow and I know he was instrumental in signing Malukas in the first place when Zak Brown didn't seem to want him, but RHR... he wasn't even good at Indy particularly. Yeah, he got a win, but he did so in a year the Andretti cars were so dominant that Marco, Muñoz, and Kurt on his debut (none of whom were exactly world-beaters as IndyCar drivers) finished 3rd, 4th, and 6th. And Marco was a better driver at Indy than RHR tbh.
I am referring to the possibility that McLaren wants the Triple Crown, not that Dixon will drive for them at Le Mans. Yes, winning in Le Mans is difficult since there are more brands than ever in endurance, unless you get lucky with the Balance of Performance (in fact, since this year, we don't know the values for each race to avoid "speculations"...) Definitely and seeing the McLaren F1 team chemistry (and more compared to IndyCar program), its more possible winning the Monaco Gp than Indy than Le Mans.
I also didn't think your Zak Brown theory was wrong. In fact, he has brought several Ganassi personnel to McLaren in recent years.