Kyle Moyer, who formerly served as Scott McLaughlin’s race strategist and general manager at Team Penske, has officially joined Arrow McLaren starting June 30, 2025. His departure from Team Penske followed the fallout from the 2025 Indy 500 scandal, which involved regulatory violations that led to significant consequences for the Penske organization.
The controversy centered on Josef Newgarden and Will Power’s Team Penske Chevrolets, which were found to have a modified attenuator in breach of IndyCar rules. These infractions were discovered before the Top 12 qualifying session, causing those cars to be relegated to the back of the starting grid. McLaughlin himself did not take part in the Top 12 qualifying after crashing in practice earlier that day.
Details of the Team Penske scandal and management changes
This incident marked the second major controversy within two years for Team Penske, following the 2024 push-to-pass scandal. In response, Roger Penske took decisive action by terminating three senior members of his team: Tim Cindric, the team president; Ron Ruzewski, the IndyCar managing director; and Kyle Moyer, the IndyCar general manager and McLaughlin’s race strategist. The move underscored the severity of the violations and the desire to reset the team’s leadership structure.
Kyle Moyer’s new responsibilities at Arrow McLaren
At Arrow McLaren, Moyer has taken on the role of director of race operations. He will collaborate closely with Scott Harner, the team‘s recently appointed director of competition, who joined during the offseason. Additionally, Moyer will manage race strategy for Nolan Siegel, a role previously handled by Team Principal Tony Kanaan. This adjustment allows Kanaan to oversee all three of McLaren’s cars more effectively over race weekends.
Tony Kanaan spoke highly of Moyer upon his arrival, emphasizing both his knowledge and leadership qualities.
“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. Kyle probably is one of the top guys of knowledge of IndyCar — he’s been around it his entire life.” —Tony Kanaan
“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.” —Tony Kanaan
An established career leading to the Arrow McLaren signing
Kyle Moyer brings a deep well of experience, having dedicated nearly his entire professional career to the IndyCar series. Before joining Team Penske in 2015, he spent more than a decade with Andretti Global. During his time there, he played a key role in winning the 2004 championship with Tony Kanaan as the team manager. His extensive tenure and success made him a highly sought-after figure once he was released by Penske.
Despite interest from multiple IndyCar teams, Moyer’s close relationship with Kanaan was a pivotal factor in his decision to join Arrow McLaren.
Reflecting on the recent turmoil at Team Penske that saw Moyer among those fired, Scott McLaughlin responded thoughtfully and with focus on the future.
“Smart people in the paddock know there was no gain, you know? It’s frustrating that this is blown up like it has, and it’s cost three people that I’m very close with their jobs. But overall, my view on it right now is just to focus forward.” —Scott McLaughlin
Potential paths for other dismissed Team Penske leaders
Regarding the fate of the other fired Penske executives, Tony Kanaan provided insight into their likely next steps. He indicated that Tim Cindric is not expected to join another IndyCar team, while Ron Ruzewski might be restricted by a non-compete agreement, limiting immediate moves within the series.
Implications and outlook for Kyle Moyer and Arrow McLaren
Kyle Moyer’s move to Arrow McLaren represents a significant gain for the team, adding a seasoned strategist with a comprehensive understanding of IndyCar racing. With the combination of Moyer’s experience and Scott Harner’s leadership in competition, Arrow McLaren is positioned to strengthen its strategy and race execution moving forward. The shift also restores a familiar collaboration, given Moyer’s history with key figures like Tony Kanaan and Scott McLaughlin.
As Arrow McLaren approaches upcoming race weekends with Moyer on board, the team aims to leverage his expertise to improve competitiveness and consistency. Meanwhile, the lingering effects of the Team Penske scandal continue to reshape personnel and strategies across IndyCar for the 2025 season and beyond.