Mclaughlin pushes idol Dixon to limit

Scott Mclaughlin has spoken of his awe of racing alongside Scott Dixon as the Indycar rookie starts to look increasingly comfortable alongside his idol.

Mclaughlin and Dixon completed a huge weekend for New Zealand motorsport at Indycar’s doubleheader in Texas, snaring a historic 1-2 in race one and backing that up with top 10 finishes in race two.

Mclaughlin is still buzzing about getting to share the podium with Dixon after almost chasing him down in his oval track debut.

‘‘I was in awe . . . I’m actually chasing down Scott Dixon, I’ve dreamt about doing that,’’ Mclaughlin said, recalling the final moments of the dramatic race with TVNZ’S Breakfast show yesterday.

‘‘To make it happen and to be right there with him and pressure him all the way to the line . . . he didn’t drive away, we were right there.’’

Mclaughlin, a three-time Supercars champion now making his way in America’s premier open-seater division, makes no secret of his admiration for Dixon, a six-time Indycar champion.

‘‘I have a huge amount of respect for what he has done for motorsport in New Zealand. If I do half the things he has done in this sport, I’ll be very happy. So to battle with him in one of my very best races was very cool.’’

Dixon, who followed Sunday’s win with a fourth on Monday, tops the drivers’ points table after four races. Mclaughlin lies eighth to be the top rookie, and already he is turning heads.

The next race is the Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 14-15 followed by the Indy 500 on May 30.