A year after what he calls “by far the worst moment of my life,” Scott McLaughlin is determined to rewrite his story at the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500.
The New Zealander crashed during the pace laps of last year’s 109th edition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” leaving him sitting with his head in his hands in Turn 1 shortly afterward, overwhelmed with emotion. He has carried that feeling ever since, patiently waiting for his chance to return and make amends.
“I felt like I wasted a really good opportunity, and an opportunity for someone else that could have made the race as well, and I didn’t even start,” said McLaughlin, 32. “So, I felt a bit of embarrassment in that regard, and for my team, obviously, and my family and my friends that showed up. It was that embarrassment that you hate, but at the same time, all those people had my back, and even today. We start fresh this year, and I really think there’s no reason why I can’t come out and win.”
Additionally, with his runner-up result at this year’s season opener in St. Petersburg serving as his only top-five finish so far in six races, a victory would inject much-needed consistency into his season.
“There’s a bit between my teeth to get back there and start the race and show what we can do,” said McLaughlin. “At the same time, it’s not a given that we’ll have a great race. I’ve got to work hard, as I did last year, and we’ll just focus on what we can control. Yeah, but the confidence is high and there’s no better way. It’s been a pretty crappy year for me in terms of just up and down results. I’d love to start some consistency and get going.”
An offseason of several changes has put McLaughlin and the No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet behind established rivals. Raul Prados replaced Ben Bretzman as race engineer, David Hunt took over as spotter from Adam Fournier, and former Team Penske President Tim Cindric—who spent previous seasons as teammate Josef Newgarden’s strategist—shifted to call race strategy for McLaughlin.
All these new voices have required time to establish effective communication.
“Yeah, I’m probably a bit harsh when I say crappy year, but to my standards, I feel like we should be a little bit better,” said McLaughlin, the 2024 Indy 500 pole-sitter. “There’s definitely some, like, teething, just trying to work out some communication between myself and Raul, my engineer, and, when we’ve got the car really good, it’s really, really good, and then when it’s bad, it’s just we’re trying to work out communication to make it better, and every weekend we’re getting better and stronger, and as a relationship, I feel very, very good with him. It’s just a matter of just getting some dialogue. He’s Spanish, and the way that I speak in ‘Kiwi,’ I’m pretty emotional, and sometimes he takes that… like, if I need to turn (of front wing), he maybe goes too much, and then we find ourselves the wrong way.
“We’re trying a different system from here on in in terms of how I give feedback about the car, and, you know, that is a teething issue, but it’s stuff that, there’s a lot of potential there, and a lot of belief in my group within the whole organization. I’m here for a long time, not a short time, so I’m excited to work with him.”
Despite more on-track preparation time for the Indy 500 to strengthen that communication, McLaughlin isn’t concerned about working with Prados at this particular event. A key reason: Prados, also an IMSA WeatherTech Sports Championship race-winning engineer, spent the last two Indy 500 races with Newgarden, including his 2024 victory. Prados first worked on a Penske timing stand in 2016 for Juan Pablo Montoya, and also reprised the role in the 2021 Indy 500 for Simona De Silvestro when Team Penske provided technical support to Paretta Autosport.
“I’m not worried about here,” McLaughlin said. “You know, he’s won the 500 before. This one’s not one that I’m worried about from that perspective, but for sure we can massage that feedback.”
