• Latest
  • Trending

McLaughlin: Bold strategy calls paying off

May 5, 2021

Nick Cassidy to race with Citroën in Formula E while balancing WEC drive with Peugeot

September 17, 2025

Cormac Buchanan battles through tough Misano weekend in Moto3 rookie season

September 16, 2025

Ryan Yardley and David Musial Jr. claim victory in Porsche Endurance Challenge at Road Atlanta

September 15, 2025

Tough weekend at the Bend for Giltrap and Osborne in Porsche Carrera Cup

September 15, 2025

Scott McLaughlin secures historic podium for JMR at Suzuka 1000km

September 15, 2025

Kiwis – Born to Fly 3. First trailer drops and final phases of shooting commence.

September 15, 2025

Kostecki and Hazelwood win The Bend 500 as Payne delivers podium for Kiwis in Enduro Cup opener

September 14, 2025

Christopher Bell wins as Van Gisbergen’s playoff dream ends at Bristol night race

September 14, 2025

Feeney Earns Pole, Wood and Payne Starting in Top 10 at The Bend

September 13, 2025

Wood leads the way in final practice at The Bend

September 13, 2025

Drama at The Bend: Whincup runs into Pye during safety car simulation, Moffatt fastest

September 13, 2025
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
VelocityNews
Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time updates on Kiwi drivers, events and much more!
Subscribe to New Alerts
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard
No Result
View All Result
VelocityNews
No Result
View All Result

McLaughlin: Bold strategy calls paying off

by Zane Shackleton
May 5, 2021
in IndyCar, International, News
0

Scott McLaughlin credits Team Penske’s bold strategy calls for his early IndyCar success, with the Kiwi suggesting he is now a regular top-ten contender.

McLaughlin starred over the weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.

He scored his debut IndyCar podium with a scintillating drive from 15th to second. The only driver to finish ahead of McLaughlin was none other than fellow Kiwi Scott Dixon.

McLaughlin’s big break in the race came courtesy of making an early first pitstop. A timely safety car then elevated him from the midfield to sixth.

He challenged the front runners to eventually make it to third before a rapid pitstop put him second on the road.

Speaking on his Balls and Bumpers podcast, McLaughlin says his performance at Texas resulted from both a good strategy call and his overall pace.

He added that his team have been trialing with unpredictable strategies for most of the season to try and give him an edge in the race.

“In our position we can risk on strategy a bit more,” he said.

“We don’t have as much to lose as, say, our teammates just because of their pedigree and what I am doing and learning.

“We have rolled the dice a few times and had great car pace.

“I think we have been an easy top-eight, top-ten car throughout the first couple of weekends.

“In Texas, I rolled out thinking I would have a good car. Then qualifying was cancelled, so I had to start 15th, which sort of threw a spanner in the works.

“But everything then fell our way.

“It is satisfying, but you are only as good as your last race and I think we had a great weekend and being pretty realistic about things.”

In the two rounds before Texas, McLaughlin finished 14th and 11th.

He says both results were not entirely indicative of his potential, believing Texas proved he could be a regular top ten finisher.

“I think the first round at Barber we were looking at a top-eight,” he said. “But our strategy was in a bit of no man’s land.

“We had a big chat about that after the race. We were probably too conservative. We probably should have two stopped instead of three stopped.

“Then the second race in St Pete, I think we did a really good job, but I think we could have done even better if the yellows had fallen our way at different times.

“I think we are a top-ten car right now and if we can keep that help heading into the month of May that would be fantastic.”

The next race on the IndyCar schedule is the GMR Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 15.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

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

error:
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
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard

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