• Latest
  • Trending
McLaughlin as prepared as he can be for IndyCar opener

McLaughlin as prepared as he can be for IndyCar opener

April 15, 2021
Porsche 963 LMDh-spec Prototype Unveiled at Goodwood

Porsche 963 LMDh-spec Prototype Unveiled at Goodwood

June 25, 2022
Louis Sharp leading Formula 4 field at Oulton Park

Louis Sharp heads to Croft for FIA Formula 4 round five

June 25, 2022
NEW MARC GT REVEALED

NEW MARC GT REVEALED

June 24, 2022
Singha Racing Team Porsche 911 GT3 with Earl Bamber

Four Kiwis taking on 24 Hours of Spa

June 24, 2022
Jordan Michel in front of bonnet

Join Jordan Michels on the road to Bathurst

June 23, 2022
Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport car

Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport racing at Mid-Ohio this weekend

June 23, 2022
Juri Vips Formula 1 test with Red Bull

Red Bull suspends Formula 2 driver Juri Vips for using racial slur

June 22, 2022
Subaru Impreza Prodrive restomod front

Prodrive restomod rally car for the road

June 22, 2022
Michele Mouton with FIA

Michele Mouton back in New Zealand for upcoming WRC round

June 21, 2022
Nick Cassidy's Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo

Nick Cassidy misses out at Imola

June 21, 2022
Verstappen Claims Sixth Win of the Season in Canada

Verstappen Claims Sixth Win of the Season in Canada

June 21, 2022
Saturday, June 25, 2022
VelocityNews
Classifieds
Subscribe
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Race Series
    • Toyota 86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • Super GT NZ
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Classifieds
    • Classifieds
    • Post Classified
    • Manage your listings
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard
No Result
View All Result
VelocityNews
No Result
View All Result

McLaughlin as prepared as he can be for IndyCar opener

by Zane Shackleton
April 15, 2021
in IndyCar, International, News
0

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Porsche 963 LMDh-spec Prototype Unveiled at Goodwood

Louis Sharp heads to Croft for FIA Formula 4 round five

Scott McLaughlin says he is at a stage where he feels as best prepared as he can be ahead of this weekend’s IndyCar season opener.

The Penske driver is making his second career race start on Monday morning at Barber Motorsport Park, six months since he last took to the grid.

Despite plenty of testing over the last few weeks, McLaughlin says little compares to an actual race.

“I have been waiting six long months to do a competitive racing event,” McLaughlin said on the Trackside podcast. “To start my career here is exciting.

“There is a bit of nerves and a bit of unknown, but as I said to my wife last night, ‘I am as prepared as I can be right now.’

“All I lack is experience, and that will come. But I feel as fit as I have ever been, I am comfy in the car, and I have all my ducks in a row.

“Hopefully, we are there or there abouts.”

This year marks McLaughlin first full-season transition from tin-tops to open-wheelers.

He isn’t the only rookie to swap codes, with seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson coming onboard with Chip Ganassi Racing.

However, McLaughlin says one of the biggest challenges to overcome will be getting used to the unique intricacies of single-seater racing.

“I’m used to banging doors,” he joked. “I can’t bang doors in an open-wheeler.

“That is something that isn’t a concern, but I am weary of learning a new racecraft in an open-wheeler.

“I am going to have to get used to the size of the car, how far the wing is in front of the nose, just little things that come so naturally to a Simon Pagenaud or Josef Newgarden. It is an unknown, but that is part of the journey.

“Unfortunately, I have chosen one of the most competitive open-wheel series in the world to do that, but what a way to learn it and learn of some of the best guys in the world.”

In May, McLaughlin will live out a boyhood dream to race in the Indy 500.

The 27-year-old recently completed a two-day open test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway but says there is still a lot left to learn before the race.

“Timing is a big thing for me,” he said. “Timing a run and using the slipstream to the best of your ability.

“I got better towards the end of the run in traffic, but understanding the wash and tuning my car when behind a car and immediately once you get past a car was new.

“I was happy that I completed so many laps. It was probably more laps than we thought we would.

“I know I got so much to learn over the month, and it won’t be until the race, or even after the race, that I would probably feel comfortable at that place.”

The Honda Grand Prix of Alabama will start at 7 am NZT, April 19.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.

No Result
View All Result
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Race Series
    • Toyota 86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • Super GT NZ
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Classifieds
    • Classifieds
    • Post Classified
    • Manage your listings
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.