P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren in astonishing bid to ‘sign Valentino Rossi’
Seven-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi has been identified as the racer Zak Brown aimed to recruit for the 2026 Indy 500 for McLaren. McLaren’s U.S. arm, Arrow McLaren, confirmed Ryan Hunter-Reay will join full-time drivers Pato O’Ward, Nolan Siegel, and Christian Lundgaard for the prestigious race next May. Hunter-Reay, known as ‘Captain America’, claimed victory at the 2014 Indianapolis 500 and the 2012 IndyCar Series championship during his two-decade career in the series. Alongside Hunter-Reay, speculation arose regarding another high-profile driver being targeted by Brown and McLaren, with motorsport journalist Jenna Fryer hinting at Rossi as a potential candidate in a social media post. Despite Brown’s previous hints of a surprise signing, the deal with Rossi did not materialize, leaving fans to ponder on the missed opportunity of seeing the iconic rider compete in the Indy 500. Rossi’s diverse racing career and global recognition parallel to the likes of F1’s Lewis Hamilton, showcasing his enduring impact on the motorsport world beyond MotoGP.
