Scott McLaughlin reflects on Road America race where he encountered difficulties that affected his final position. The Team Penske driver from New Zealand faced challenges during the event held on June 22 in Wisconsin, which prevented him from securing a strong finish despite a promising start.
Overview of McLaughlin’s Road America Weekend
McLaughlin began the race in fourth place and led the early stages, showing impressive pace in his #3 Team Penske Chevrolet. However, a strategic error involving switching to red-walled tires resulted in a drop to twelfth by the race’s end. After the event, McLaughlin turned to his social media to acknowledge the setback and praised his team’s effort. He tweeted,
“We had an amazing car today. We just caught the wrong side of the yellow and it hosed our day. Proud of the effort from the #Thirsty3s. We’ll be ready to go in Mid-Ohio.”
—Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske driver
McLaughlin’s Performance Earlier in the 2025 Season
Before Road America, McLaughlin had steady performances throughout the 2025 IndyCar season. At the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in early March, he achieved pole position and finished fourth, demonstrating his competitiveness. Then at the Sonsio Grand Prix on May 10, he qualified and finished in fourth place, confirming his consistency near the front of the field.
Thoughts on Pursuing Double Duty and IndyCar Focus
Scott McLaughlin also recently discussed his future plans regarding competing in multiple racing series, similar to his rival Kyle Larson, who competes in both NASCAR and the Indianapolis 500. Despite his interest, McLaughlin emphasized his current commitment to IndyCar and the importance of securing a win at the Indianapolis 500, which remains his highest priority.
During an interview on the Speed Freaks podcast, he stated,
“I would do it, but I think I’ve got a few boxes I want to tick here in IndyCar first. I know it’s a boring answer but it’s definitely something I’m really interested in doing, but I think I owe it to RP (Roger Penske) and the team to focus on what I’m doing here in IndyCar and then the rest will follow.”
—Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske driver
He added candidly about the pressure of following in Larson’s footsteps by racing in multiple disciplines,
“If you look at [Kyle] Larson; like he was burnt out from doing it the last couple of years and I need to make sure that I’ve won this big race and ultimately the one that I want to win the most, before I even think about moving on to something else and doing something crazy like that.”
—Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske driver
McLaughlin’s Recent Indy 500 Experience and Looking Ahead
At the 109th Indianapolis 500, McLaughlin’s race ended prematurely due to a crash early in the event, a disappointment in his pursuit of a first Indy 500 victory. This setback, however, does not deter his determination. With a passionate focus on upcoming races, including Mid-Ohio, McLaughlin and Team Penske aim to rebound and build on their solid performances earlier this season.
McLaughlin’s reflections on Road America reveal his resilience and strong desire to improve, as he looks forward to overcoming challenges in the rest of the IndyCar season. His dedication to fulfilling goals within IndyCar, along with a measured view toward expanding his racing ventures, underline his strategic approach to building a successful career in motorsports.
