Kiwi ace can make grade
Ambrose backs mate in IndyCar
MARCOS Ambrose has warned Scott McLaughlin racing in the US is cutthroat and “mediocre” is not accepted as the departing Supercars champion makes the leap to full-time IndyCar challenger.
But the two-time Supercars champion is backing his friend to “make it stick” in the US open-wheel series where he will race for Team Penskefrom2021.
The last Supercars driver to try his luck as a full-time racer in the US — in the NASCAR series — he said McLaughlin deserved his chance overseas, but warned the transition from the Australian V8s could be a challenge.
“He certainly deserves a shot. He has done great here thelastfewyears... sohehas got as good a chance as anybody to make it stick in the States ,” Ambrose said.
“For me, it was a really tough environment. The American environment is cutthroat.
“It’s all about speed and winning and ability, and there are a lot of fantastic American drivers out there who have grown up racing in my sport, which is NASCAR, oval-racing and heavy, highpowered, under-grip race cars.
“So I found it really tough to just be on the track, to make it work at the level that was required, but I got there. He is going to be racing against guys there who areas
good as anyone in the world. IndyCar racing has a high pedigree of open-wheel drivers from Europe and also North America, so they won’t put up with mediocre forlong.
“But he has got a great chance. He is with a great team, he is the right age and he has got a great skill set, and if he can group all that together, that is the magic source that you need, you need it to all come together attherighttime.”
McLaughlin departs Supercars after winning three consecutive championships with DJR Team Penske, which has now reverted to Dick Johnson Racing after the American motorsport giant’s decision to pull out of Supercars.