Scott McLaughlin faced disappointment after being eliminated in the first round of qualifying at the Grand Prix of Monterey held at Laguna Seca. The Team Penske driver expressed his frustration with <a href="https://www.big14news.com/indycar/”>IndyCar officials following the cancellation of the second practice session, which impacted his preparation for the event.
The 2025 IndyCar season continues to challenge McLaughlin and his Team Penske teammates, as the trio has struggled to secure victories and consistent qualifying results, particularly on street and permanent circuits. In Laguna Seca, McLaughlin’s qualifying performance mirrored previous difficulties, extending the team’s tough run this year.
Previously, both Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden were unable to advance beyond the first round of qualifying at the Toronto IndyCar race. At Laguna Seca, McLaughlin again fell short in round one, finishing 7th in Group 1, just missing advancement, while Newgarden barely progressed in 6th place. Along with Marcus Ericsson, these three drivers opted for two sets of alternate tires during the initial qualifying round, a strategy that played a key role in their results.
Following qualifying, McLaughlin discussed the challenges he faced with FOX. He explained that Team Penske had made significant changes after Friday’s practice, but the cancellation of the second practice session due to heavy morning fog prevented them from testing these adjustments. This lack of track time left McLaughlin without the necessary feel for the car heading into qualifying.
Frustration Over Practice Cancellation and Its Effects on Qualifying
When asked by Jack Harvey if the loss of the second practice affected his qualifying, McLaughlin admitted it made some difference but emphasized that it was the same situation for all drivers. He remarked:
“I mean slightly. It’s the same for everyone, Jack. But the XPEL Chevy yesterday, we sort of rolled a little bit out of the window. Threw a lot of changes at it this morning, but a genius decided to schedule practice for 8:30. Unfortunately, we couldn’t run, but it was the same for everybody. So we made some improvements, but just missed out. It’s frustrating but I’m glad we made some improvements and we’ll be better tomorrow.” —Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske driver
The inability to test improvements clearly left the team unsettled, impacting their qualifying pace at a critical event like Laguna Seca, known for its challenging course and demanding conditions.
Early Setbacks for McLaughlin at Recent Races Compound Difficult Season
Scott McLaughlin’s struggles are not limited to Laguna Seca. At the Toronto IndyCar event, he faced an early race retirement after a pit stop problem led to a crash. Starting on the alternate tires, McLaughlin attempted to pit for harder tires soon after the start to gain a strategic edge. Unfortunately, the rear left wheel nut came loose exiting the pit lane, causing him to crash into the wall.
Reflecting on that incident, McLaughlin shared with FOX:
“Yeah, bummed for everyone with the Gallagher Chevy, two races in a row, out pretty early. So, sorry to them, but yeah, I felt like something sort of broke, or something on the left rear we just done a pit-stop, I love my guys, I’m not gonna drop them. Oh yeah, the nut came off (while watching the replay), anyway, it’s frustrating, we are all in this together.” —Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske driver
Adding to his tough season, McLaughlin also retired from the Iowa Race 2 on the first lap following a collision with Devlin DeFrancesco, further underscoring the persistent difficulties he and the team are encountering during the 2025 campaign.
Implications for Team Penske as the Season Advances
Scott McLaughlin’s frustration at Laguna Seca highlights ongoing challenges that have kept Team Penske from finding their competitive form this season. With no wins so far in 2025 and repeated issues in qualifying, especially on circuits like streets and permanent road courses, the team faces mounting pressure to turn their performance around quickly.
Though McLaughlin acknowledged the improvements made, the missed opportunity to confirm those changes before qualifying is emblematic of the hurdles ahead. As the season progresses, the ability to adapt quickly and avoid race incidents will be essential for McLaughlin and his teammates Josef Newgarden and Marcus Ericsson to regain their position among IndyCar leaders.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Scott McLaughlin a dad?
A. At age 10, he became a father. Lucy Violet McLaughlin was born at 6:12 p.m. Both the baby and her mom, Karly, were doing well. The Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway marks McLaughlin’s first time away from them. “I was focused on my baby girl,” the 31-year-old IndyCar racer shared with the News-Journal on Thursday.
Q. Is Scott McLaughlin a father?
A. McLaughlin and his wife had their first baby in October last year, just when the racing season finished. He shared with Mike Hosking that being a dad has been quite exciting and fun for him.
