MCLAUGHLIN CONFIDENT AHEAD OF INDY 500

Star rookie Scott McLaughlin is confident he can contend for victory in the famed Indianapolis 500, citing plenty of preparation for his maiden appearance in the world’s biggest race.

In his first attempt, McLaughlin was the fastest Team Penske qualifier, securing 17th spot in the 33-car starting line-up

He is bidding to be the latest rookie Indy 500 winner since F1 refugee Alex Rossi in 2016.

The reigning triple Supercars champion will have his final hit-out before the big race in ‘Carb Day’ practice early Saturday morning AEST.

“Every time I’m out on track, I’m learning every lap,” he said. “The first time I was out on the track, I remember thinking ‘Far out, I can’t imagine having 32 other people around me.

“Now I’m ready to come from 17th on the grid and get to the front. That whole attitude has completely changed, absolutely.”

The 105th Indy 500 is scheduled for early Monday morning AEST.

While not declaring himself a front-runner, McLaughlin believes he has put in the preparation to have the race pace to be in the mix.

“I’ve worked very hard, not only this month, but beforehand, looking at footage and simulator sessions,” he said. “My Open test here was strong, especially in race trim. I’ve driven the car more in race trim than I have qualifying trim.

“So for us to qualify 17th, yeah, it wasn’t amazing for us as a team, but for me to qualify pretty strongly in terms of the team and be somewhere in the mid-pack there that we can really make gains essentially in the first and second stint, it makes me excited.

“We’ve had a really good run. I think we’ve been on the safe side in terms of how hard we’ve pushed. I’ve really got used to the weight jacking and got used to the air and stuff that I really need to learn and my tools that I can use to change the car and the balance. I feel comfortable with all of that.

“I believe in my own ability to come through. I feel like I can do it. It’s just a matter of making it happen.”

McLaughlin scored a season-so-far high second at Texas Motor Speedway last month, although the wide-open Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a very different banked-corner track.

Mentored by four-time winner Rick Mears, he thinks he can be a contender at the famed ‘Brickyard’ on debut.

“There’s no reason why I can’t be,” he declared. “The only thing I’m going to lack is experience, but crazier things have happened. I think I can put myself in the position to be somewhere near the front with strategy and with some passing.

“I think our car is fast enough to come through the field a little bit initially. Then I think we’re also fast enough to be up the front and sustain that and save the fuel when we need to.

“I have a lot to learn about this race and I’ll learn across the day, but like I said before, I back my ability if I get to the front and have the chance to win, I feel like I can definitely grab a hold of that.

“For sure, I’m not discounting it at all.”

McLaughlin doesn’t believe his mid-pack starting position is a disadvantage, likening the Indy 500 to the fast-finishing Bathurst 1000.

“You can be in positions to win the race from anywhere on the grid, things have just got to fall your way,” he said. “Sometimes you get a lucky yellow, sometimes you get a bad yellow, or strategy doesn’t quite work out.

“So you do need things to work your way. It’s very much like Bathurst. It’s all about buying that ticket to the last stint and being there.

“I know my team has made some really good strategy calls this year and has got us up the front – for instance, the Texas race. I think we can be right there if we get it right on the day and, like I said, we have the pace to be able to sustain that.”

Relaxed and enthused, McLaughlin dismisses suggestions he’ll start under the weight of responsibility of being 18-time Indy 500 winner Team Penske’s qualifying pacesetter.

“We’re all in similar situations,” he said. “We were a bit underwhelmed with our pace in qualifying, but at the same time, we know anything can happen and we can come through.

“And our pace has been reasonably strong, so I think anything can happen, strategy and stuff. It’s a wild race. Don’t count us out yet.”

The Indy 500 is one of the most famous and prestigious motor races – alongside the Monaco Grand Prix and Le Mans 24 Hours – and normally attracts the largest crowd of any one-day sporting event at around 250,000.

Attendance will be restricted to up to 135,000 – still a new world record since COVID-19 restrictions were imposed.

For more of the latest IndyCar news pick up the current issue of Auto Action. Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.