Follow Scott McLaughlin on social media and the Team Penske NTT IndyCar Series rookie provides a tour known as “Scott Discovers America.”
From Bojangles’ chicken and biscuits to North Carolina barbecue to NFL RedZone, the 27-year-old driver from New Zealand is discovering things that many of us take for granted.
One thing McLaughlin has already discovered is that winning is not encouraged at Team Penske, it is expected.
Inside Team Penske’s North Carolina shop are 18 banners, touting the operation’s 18 Indianapolis 500 victories, the most by any team.
“I’m completely obsessed with the Indy 500,” McLaughlin told SPEED SPORT. “I go to bed and I watch onboard videos, I watch old races, I watch old starts. Even little things like driver intros, how cool it is going to be, picturing myself in that moment.
“I am absolutely infatuated with the race. When you see those photos on the wall with Rick Mears, Danny Sullivan, Gil de Ferran, everyone, it’s pretty special,” McLaughlin continued. “To be driving the No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet is pretty special knowing who has driven that car before me. If I can do the same work as Helio Castroneves or Rick Mears, I’ll be a very proud lad.”
McLaughlin earned this opportunity at Team Penske because of his performance in the Australia Supercars Championship.
In 2013, McLaughlin became the youngest winner of a Supercars race when he was driving for Garry Rogers Motorsport. Over four seasons with GRM, McLaughlin won eight times with 17 poles. His talent earned the attention team owner Roger Penske.
Penske formed an alliance with Dick Johnson Racing to create a power team in Supercars.
One of the perks Penske used to lure McLaughlin to the team was a trip to the 100th Indianapolis 500 in 2016.
“That’s the first time I met Roger Penske,” McLaughlin said. “It was quite a gift from Roger Penske when I was just finalizing my deal with the team.
“It was unreal. I had tremendous access to see the start, go out on the grid, look at the people, hear ‘Back Home Again in Indiana’ and all of that good stuff,” McLaughlin said. “I started to realize how special this race was not only to the drivers, but also the general public. It’s so proud to be in that race and put on a show.
“It’s such a magical place. When you go there the first time it’s a pure coliseum. Even going back there last November to do my rookie test, the place is even bigger when there is no one in it. It’s crazy. It’s a very special place that America should be very proud of and I’m going to be very proud to compete in America’s great race.”
The combination of Penske, Dick Johnson Racing and McLaughlin was so potent, hardly any other team in Supercars could keep up.
McLaughlin won the series championship in 2018, ’19 and ’20 and concluded his Supercars career with 56 victories, 76 poles and 106 podium finishes. In 2019, he established a Supercars single season record of 18 wins, including Team Penske’s first win in the legendary Bathurst 1000.
In his final Supercars season last year, McLaughlin led the series with 13 wins and 15 poles.
After 48 triumphs and 59 poles with Team Penske/Dick Johnson Racing, it was time for McLaughlin to move on, and the next step is the NTT IndyCar Series.
“I’m going to miss the Supercars series a lot,” McLaughlin admitted. “I think it was a great series, but it’s time to move on. I achieved everything I wanted to achieve.
“It’s time for the big leagues now.”
McLaughlin knows the high expectations he’s facing.
“It’s very serious,” he said. “It’s a new start for me. It’s been a big change for me and my wife moving here from the other side of the world. I’m with the Big Brother now; I was the Little Brother with the team Down Under, but now we are on the big team. I enjoy working with Team Penske and everyone there and everybody has made us feel welcome.
“I’m ready to go. It’s going to take time, but I’m planning on being here a long time, not a short time. That’s for sure.”
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