Scott McLaughlin recently discussed Team Penske’s outlook ahead of the 2026 IndyCar season in a conversation with Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles. Reflecting on a difficult 2025, the New Zealand driver emphasized the team’s determination to return to winning form after a disappointing year.
Team Penske faced one of its toughest campaigns last season, with no driver finishing in the Top 5 of the championship standings. Will Power led the team by securing ninth overall, and each driver—Power and Josef Newgarden—managed only a single victory late in the season. The team’s struggles were compounded by the Indy 500 attenuator scandal, which resulted in the dismissal of three senior staff members by Roger Penske. However, the organization has put the setbacks behind them and welcomes rookie David Malukas to the driver lineup for 2026.
McLaughlin Describes Team’s Reset and Commitment to Improvement
During the “Doug and Drivers” series, Scott McLaughlin gave insight into the refreshed atmosphere within Team Penske. Though changes may not be evident to outsiders, McLaughlin explained that internally the team feels different, energized, and ready to fight for success.
“Yeah, look, it’s a clean slate in some ways. You know, it’s a refreshed look at the team, especially inside. You probably won’t see it from the outside, but I think, you know, for us and everyone that works there, I think it’s just a little different.,” said Scott McLaughlin (2:00 onwards)
He also praised the renewed focus and spirit among the team members, admitting that the road ahead is challenging but the group is motivated to regain its winning status and deliver victories that reflect Roger Penske’s legacy.
“I’m really proud of how the team has really worked together and in such an awesome, you know, environment the last few months and to get, you know, that mojo back and to really focus on what we need. You know, we need to be better on road courses, a little bit on ovals as well and street courses and people have got, you know, the bit between the teeth to be stronger and really return Roger to where he belongs and, you know, it’s going to be hard. It’s tough. IndyCar is the most competitive series on the planet, but we’re ready for the fight,” added Scott McLaughlin
McLaughlin Shares Thoughts on NASCAR and Roger Penske’s Support
Before focusing fully on IndyCar, Scott McLaughlin made his name in Australia’s V8 Supercars series, which shares some similarities with NASCAR. When asked about a potential move to NASCAR, McLaughlin revealed that Roger Penske is supportive of the idea and open to McLaughlin testing his skills in stock car racing if the opportunity arises.
“Look, we’ve been, we’ve joked about it. He’s like, ‘[Shane] Van Gisbergen is going well; we know you could have a crack with him’. I know that Roger [Penske] would like to see me do it and whatever, and people always hassle him and stuff, but ultimately we’ve got so much here to work on,” said McLaughlin
Despite the encouragement, McLaughlin stressed that his current focus remains firmly on IndyCar and Team Penske’s upcoming campaigns, though he would eagerly accept a NASCAR challenge if offered.
“Yeah, I’m just very happy doing what I’m doing right now. Honestly, yes, if he came to me tomorrow and said, ‘Do you want to do a NASCAR race?’ I would do it. Because I just love racing,” he added
Looking Ahead: The Stakes for Team Penske and McLaughlin in 2026
Scott McLaughlin entered the 2025 season as a strong contender, but the team’s overall disappointing performance kept him away from serious championship contention. With a new driver lineup featuring David Malukas and renewed organizational energy, Team Penske is aiming for a major turnaround in 2026. McLaughlin’s commitment and the team’s internal changes suggest that Penske wants to reclaim its place at the top of IndyCar racing.
Given IndyCar’s highly competitive environment, the upcoming season will test the resilience and skill of both the drivers and their crew. Success in 2026 could mark a critical step in restoring Penske’s dominance and fulfilling Roger Penske’s ambitions for the team’s future.
