Scott McLaughlin has only driven four seasons in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and in an open-wheel car, yet he was the top-performing driver for formidable Team Penske for the second straight season. McLaughlin finished fifth in the season finale at Nashville Superspeedway on September 15, propelling him to third position in points for the second time in a row. It’s another chapter in the incredible ascension of McLaughlin, a New Zealand native who began racing full-time in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2021 after winning three championships in the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, which featured full-bodied touring cars.
“I just feel like every race I know that I can be fast at now,” he told me. “I’m upset if I’m not fast, which is where I’m at right now. However, being a Penske driver, this is to be anticipated. “I believe I now have enough experience to be able to hit the ground running on most tracks. Whether it’s a new track or not, I feel prepared to go. I’m not concerned about it.” Josef Newgarden leads Team Penske with six wins in the last two seasons, including two at the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. But McLaughlin is right behind with four. Penske teammate Will Power has three victories.
McLaughlin’s second pole position on a circular track came in May for the 108th Indianapolis 500. McLaughlin went on to win his first oval race on July 13 at Iowa Speedway, followed by another on September 1 at Milwaukee Mile. But there is one difference between McLaughlin and his Penske teammates: championships. Newgarden and Power have each won the Astor Challenge Cup twice. McLaughlin wants his first, comparing his No. 3 Penske team to the Buffalo Bills of the NFL, a well-liked franchise looking to break through for its first title after losing four consecutive Super Bowls in the 1990s.
“I’m confident I can do it. I’m confident that I can win both the ‘500’ and the championship. I just have to tidy up a few things, and we’ll be OK.” During the offseason, he’ll also be focusing on his first child. McLaughlin and his wife, Karly, welcomed their baby daughter Lucy on October 10.
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