McLaughlin ends IndyCar year with podium

Kiwi Scott McLaughlin has ended an up-and-down IndyCar season on a high with a podium in the Nashville finale.

It was a thrilling finish to the season with the entire top four covered by just nine-tenths.

In the end, Josef Newgarden held off champion Alex Palou to deny the Chip Ganassi driver the chance to join Mario Andretti with nine wins in a single season.

But that was just some of the drama with McLaughlin having earlier lost the lead after a hit with the wall, found himself fighting furiously to secure a podium.

The Kiwi ended up being forced to make a daring last-lap move on Kyffin Simpson after a thrilling duel down the back straight.

After a tough year, finishing with a back-to-back third places is a boost for McLaughlin as he ends 2025 10th in the standings.

“I’m not exhausted. I’m fine. I’m just really gutted for my guys,” the Penske driver said. 

“I just got a little high there. Just trying to protect my entry and, just got too high.

“I can’t believe the DEX Imaging Chevy was okay. I think it was a little bent at the end, but I wanted a podium bad, and I just kept my foot in it. 

“And the last lap, I just sent it, and I was like, if I hit the fence, I hit the fence. 

“I don’t kno, but the handle only went away little bit. 

“But I just held it flat, and didn’t really care if we went in the fence or not and thankfully, it stuck, and I was glad to get the boys a podium. 

“Congrats to Josef. Congrats to the team Penske. It’s a great end to our year. We were good today. Just not good enough.”

The hopes of Australia’s Will Power were dashed when he overshot his pit box before stalling on a costly Lap 31.

This restricted him to 21st in a story of what could have been.

“The Verizon Chevy was fast today, and it definitely showed there to start the race,” Power said. 

“I wish it had all played out differently so we could end the season with a strong result that I know our team was capable of. 

“Really excited for Josef (Newgarden) to get the win, though.”

Image: Penske/Joe Skibinski

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