BUTTERFLIES WON’T SLOW MCLAUGHLIN’S MOMENTUM
as he backed up his first ever win for Ford on Saturday by landing a double. In a race that began with Red Bull teammates Shane van Gisbergen and Jamie Whincup going toe-to-toe in to turn one, McLaughlin was untouchable in his flying Shell Ford as Chaz Mostert and Whincup chased in vain.
US-based team co-owner Penske watched from pit lane after making the trip from America to see the wunderkind’s weekend domination.
“I was pretty nervous about my first race in front of the boss,’’ McLaughlin said.
“But they employed me because they believed in me and hopefully I am repaying them now. But to do it in front of them and speak to them instead of getting text messages is pretty awesome.’’
McLaughlin continued the weekend of celebration for DJR Team Penske earlier in qualifying when he stormed his way to an emphatic pole position win.
In a show of might that followed his first win, the million-dollar-a-year recruit didn’t need a final run after setting a winning time of 54.57 seconds midway through the session.
McLaughlin rolled the dice and stayed in while the field tried and failed to beat his mark in a move that allowed him to save a green set of tyres for the looming 83lap race.
The Fords again proved too fast with Mostert blasting a lap late to score a front-row start for Prodrive while van Gisbergen finished fourth fastest in Holden’s best finish.
Former Volvo driver McLaughlin, though, was never troubled over the race to go back-to-back.
“We got the broom out this week out and took some points,’’ McLaughlin said.
“We need to build on this but it is cool to get the famous No. 17 back on top and do it for Dick Johnson and everyone else at the team.“