MCLAUGHLIN INKS NEW PENSKE CONTRACT
Scott McLaughlin has signed a contract extension with IndyCar giants Team Penske, keeping him at North Carolina for years to come.
After claiming rookie of the year in 2021 following his cross from Supercars, the superstar speedster from Hamilton, New Zealand, has gone from strength to strength in America, and is still in contention for this year’s title.
His relationship with team Penske dates back to 2017, where he dominated Supercars with DJR Penske, taking eight wins in his first year before he romped to three-straight titles.
“Team Penske has been such a huge part of my career, helping me get to where I’m at today, so I’m excited to continue racing with Roger (Penske), Tim and the entire team well into the future,” said McLaughlin.
“Getting a chance to move to the United States and chase my racing dream, driving in the IndyCar series, is something that would not have been possible without Team Penske, so I’m forever grateful.
“I’ve had so many great moments with this team, from winning three Supercars Championships to winning the Bathurst 1000 to making my first INDYCAR start. Now, we are competing at a high level, winning races and poles and even competing for the series championship. I can’t wait to see what the future holds with Team Penske.”
An all Trans-Tasman podium at the Portland GP, where McLaughlin claimed his third victory of 2022
Team Penske President, Tim Cindric, spoke glowingly of McLaughlin’s impact at the team, where he and teammate Will Power have taken the Trans-Tasman battle to new heights, along with Chip Ganassi’s Scott Dixon.
“Scott took a big gamble when he came to IndyCar, as he knew he would be leaving a series where he knew he could thrive for years to come,” said Cindric.
“To see him have the success he has had so far has been really satisfying, as we were confident in his talent. We just didn’t know how long it would take for him to gain confidence in himself.
“Scott has adjusted quickly and has already established himself as someone that can win at any track during one of the most competitive eras of IndyCar racing.
He continues to be a great representative for our partners and he has connected well with race fans all over the world. We are excited that he will continue to be part of the Team Penske legacy for years to come.”
McLaughlin has provided Penske with a number of first-time achievements over his time at Supercars and IndyCars, being the first Penske affiliated driver to win the Bathurst 1000, and the first to win IndyCar’s Rookie of the Year.
With three victories this season, he ranks second in laps led (433), behind teammate Josef Newgarden, and is only 41 points behind Power with only one race remaining.
The Monterey, California Grand Prix at Laguna Seca can be seen live on Stan Sport this weekend on September 10-12, with the main race starting at 5:30 AEST on Monday.
IndyCar Standings
- Power 523
- Newgarden 503
- Dixon 503
- Ericsson 484
- McLaughlin 482
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