MCLAUGHLIN ACCEPTS INDY NO-GO

Scott McLaughlin accepts Indy no-go – Photo: LAT

Scott McLaughlin has philosophically accepted the news his IndyCar debut is on indefinite hold.

By BRUCE NEWTON

In fact, McLaughlin revealed he first had the setback confirmed when he read Team Penske boss Tim Cindric’s views on the matter on the Auto Action website.

“I haven’t really spoken to Tim or (team owner) Roger (Penske) about it, they have plenty of stuff on their hands at the moment,” said McLaughlin.

“When I read the story that was exactly what I had figured out anyway.”

After starring in two IndyCar tests early in 2020, McLaughlin was due to make his debut on the Indy road course in May in a fourth Team Penske Dallara-Chev.

But that race was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic until July. More significantly, flight and quarantine restrictions make it impossible for the defending Supercars champion to head to America even if a seat was waiting.

“It is the harsh reality of the whole pandemic. I would have had my first IndyCar race already, but it is what it is,” the DJR Team Penske Ford Mustang driver told AA.

“The main thing is I am still in touch with those guys over there and still driving for Team Penske over here, so not all bad.”

McLaughlin has kept his fitness regime going strong during the lockdown, just in case the call-up came to go to the USA. But knew it was very unlikely to happen.

“I looked at it (the IndyCar drive) as a privilege because my main job is here and that is what I am focussed on,” he said.

“I knew if anything put my job here in jeopardy in regards to not being able to get home or whatever was never going to be on.

“So I have just left it, I’ve gone about my business here.”

Closer to home McLaughlin has had a face-to-face reminder of coronavirus realities with five staff members retrenched from DJRTP recently.

“It does hit home and makes us realise how hard it is impacting,” said Mclaughlin.

“But for our team to survive and continue to achieve success changes had to be made.

“The people that were let go were an integral part of our success, so it was a very tough decision and I’m glad it wasn’t me having to make it.

“It’s happened to us and it’s happened to other teams as well. Hopefully things will be better once we get back racing.”

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