Tony Kanaan saw something that others didn’t.
During a turbulent Month of May in 2024, then-rookie Nolan Siegel faced adversity few young drivers could weather. Driving for Dale Coyne Racing, he endured two significant crashes, one in practice and the other in qualifying for the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. He didn’t qualify for the race.
Kanaan, the 2004 INDYCAR SERIES champion and 2013 Indy 500 winner, was working with Arrow McLaren that year. Amid the chaos, Kanaan noticed Siegel’s maturity, rare traits in an 18-year-old under pressure. Kanaan offered mentorship and guidance.
That impression stuck.
Siegel entered the 2024 season as a part-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver with Dale Coyne Racing, while also competing full time in INDY NXT by Firestone with HMD Motorsports. Missing the show at Indy didn’t dent his pride. He returned to the INDY NXT grid the following weekend on the streets of Detroit, then went to France to race with United Autosport in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he helped deliver a class win in LMP2.
Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, is also a co-owner of United Autosport. That win and Siegel’s professionalism throughout a challenging month put him on Arrow McLaren’s radar.
Just days later, back in the United States, Siegel stepped in for Agustín Canapino at Juncos Hollinger Racing at Road America, showcasing not only speed but adaptability. Kanaan lobbied Brown to take a closer look at the California native, and by the June 23 race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Siegel was behind the wheel of the No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet on a multiyear deal.
Unfortunately, the 26 starts since joining Arrow McLaren have logged just three top-10 finishes. But the team isn’t wavering in its support for Siegel. Even as big names like Will Power floated into free agency this offseason, Arrow McLaren remains committed to Siegel alongside teammates Pato O’Ward and Christian Lundgaard.
The team strives to see this process through.
This summer, Arrow McLaren made a major move to bolster its program, hiring longtime INDYCAR SERIES veteran Kyle Moyer as director of competition. Moyer, who parted ways with Team Penske in May after two of the team’s cars were found to be illegally modified, brought decades of experience from leadership roles at Penske and Andretti Global.
Hand-picked by Team Principal Kanaan, Moyer’s first official day on the job was a late June 2025 test at Iowa Speedway, where his mission was clear – guide Siegel.
“I think that was a huge pleasure and is a huge learning opportunity for me,” Siegel said of Moyer’s arrival.
Moyer (photo, above) was placed on Siegel’s pit stand alongside Scott Harner, the team’s director of race operations.
“We have a really strong group of people on the stand,” Siegel said.
The chemistry took time, but the trio clicked during the second half of the season. Siegel finished 21st in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES standings, down one spot from before Moyer joined, but that dip came largely due to a concussion-like injury that forced him to miss the second Iowa race. He was scheduled to start fifth but scored just three points after sitting out.
“It’s great to have someone with that experience on the stand,” Siegel said of Moyer. “I’ve learned a lot from him. Everyone on the stand has. He’s making the No. 6 car better. He’s making the whole team better.
“2026 has to be another notch up for us. We have to produce results, and I think Kyle (Moyer) will help us do that.”
While Siegel’s results may not leap off the page, the context matters.
Stability is a luxury Siegel hasn’t enjoyed until last season. He expects that consistency – and focus on one machine – to accelerate next season with similar personnel from 2025.
In 2023, Siegel raced seven different cars across multiple series. In 2024, he split time between three INDYCAR teams and raced LMP2 entries in the IMSA Rolex 24 At Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The 2025 season marked the first time in his young career that his focus narrowed, but the adjustment wasn’t without growing pains. Personnel changes and midseason shakeups still created a steep learning curve.
But with a full-time ride, a seasoned support staff and the confidence of the respected Kanaan, 2026 is shaping up to be a potential breakout season for Siegel.
Still, he knows it’s on him to deliver.
“The stability is nice, it’s not something I’ve really had at all in my career,” Siegel said. “I’ve always kind of raced a bunch of different stuff. Putting full focus on this is a big change, and in a good way. I’m looking forward to the rest of it.
“Driving just the Indy car is one thing. Driving just the Arrow McLaren Indy cars is big. Working with the same people is even bigger.”