McLaughlin better than me, says Johnson
Supercars legend Dick Johnson has elevated Scott McLaughlin to the top of the pile, admitting the Kiwi driver is already ‘‘better than me’’.
McLaughlin has just won back-toback Supercars titles and has a huge future in front of him.
Johnson, 74, who co-owns the DJR Team Penske outfit McLaughlin drives for, insists the Kiwi deserves to be ranked alongside current greats Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes and predicts he could be a record-setter on the tough Aussie scene.
‘‘Without a doubt he is already up there. I don’t think he will just challenge them, I think he will surpass them. He is still young, only 26, and he has a lot in front of him. I think he is better than me already,’’ Johnson told the Daily Telegraph.
‘‘It is hard to compare against eras, but I reckon he has me. I couldn’t do some of the things that he is doing.
‘‘He has extraordinary talent. He will break all the records if that is what he wants to do.’’
Johnson dismissed theories that McLaughlin simply had the fastest car this year as his bright red Mustang dominated the series.
Johnson revealed testing in Queensland proved how good McLaughlin was in pure driving terms.
‘‘He could get it out and get speed from the middle of the corner, which few can do. He can just make the car dance to his tune,’’ Johnson told the Daily Telegraph. ‘‘The talent that he has, he is one of these guys that can just get so much extra out of a car.
‘‘He has also surprised a few with what he can do on a simulator.’’