Arrow McLaren Reveals Tony Kanaan’s Indianapolis 500 Sponsor, Car Livery

Self-storage chain “SmartStop” will sponsor 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner and 2004 IndyCar Series champion Tony Kanaan in the May 28 107^th Indy 500 for Arrow McLaren Racing. The team made the announcement on Wednesday, April 19.

SmartStop is a self-managed company with a fully integrated operations team of approximately 450 self-storage professionals focused on growing the SmartStop® Self Storage brand. SmartStop, through its indirect subsidiary SmartStop REIT Advisors, LLC, also sponsors other self-storage programs.

As of January 31, 2023, SmartStop has an owned or managed portfolio of 181 operating properties in 22 states and Canada, comprising approximately 124,800 units and 14.1 million rentable square feet. SmartStop and its affiliates own or manage 24 operating self-storage properties in Canada, which total approximately 20,400 units and 2.1 million rentable square feet.

Kanaan’s No. 66 SmartStop Chevrolet features the No. 66 in honor of McLaren’s first Indy winner when the late Mark Donohue drove a McLaren to victory in the 1972 Indianapolis 500 for Penske Racing.

It was the first of Team Penske’s record 18 Indianapolis 500 victories.

Kanaan’s car and sponsor was announced Wednesday in Indianapolis, prior to the schedule two-day Indianapolis 500 Open Test that is scheduled for April 20 and April 21 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Kanaan’s No. 66 Chevy is one of the team’s four entries into this year’s Indy 500.

The car features black and papaya colors on the chassis with a papaya star surrounding the seat and three black stars along the left rear wing.

According to McLaren, these elements are a nod to McLaren Racing’s historic Triple Crown achievement, the high-standing accomplishment of winning the three most prestigious races in motorsport: the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indy 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“I’ve been eager to see this livery, and it does not disappoint,” Kanaan said. “It’s one of the best-looking cars I’ve ever been in and representing the history of the Triple Crown makes it even more special. I’m so grateful to have SmartStop and my long-time partners 7-Eleven and NTT DATA along for this ride, and I’m excited to finally take this car out on the track starting tomorrow at the Open Test.”

The reveal of the No. 66 livery completes Arrow McLaren’s special livery series for the 2023 Indy 500 and ties the four cars together to commemorate McLaren’s Triple Crown. The team unveiled the No. 5, No. 6, and No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolets at an event last week ahead of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, and each car represents a Triple Crown race win. The livery series forms a part of McLaren’s 60th birthday celebrations through 2023, honoring iconic moments throughout its history and the legacy built by team founder Bruce McLaren.

The No. 66 SmartStop Arrow McLaren Chevrolet will be on track for the first time at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Open Test beginning tomorrow on April 20.

“We are thrilled to be a part of Arrow McLaren’s Triple Crown celebration and to sponsor the No. 6 SmartStop Arrow McLaren Chevrolet at the Indianapolis 500 with racing legend Tony Kanaan behind the wheel,” said H. Michael Schwartz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, SmartStop. “SmartStop Self Storage is committed to supporting excellence, and Tony and the Arrow McLaren team exemplify the drive and determination needed to succeed at the highest level. We can’t wait to see what they will accomplish together on the track, and we are honored to be a part of this historic event.”

Kanaan announced in February that this year’s race will be his last in the NTT IndyCar Series, will make his 22nd career start at the Indy 500 with the support of SmartStop as his primary partner and long-time partner 7-Eleven. He won the 97th running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in 2013 and has finished in the top three on four separate occasions, including a third-place finish last May.

Further celebrations commemorating McLaren’s Triple Crown achievement will be revealed throughout the month of May.