IndyCar debut confirmed

MOTORSPORT

WELLINGTON: Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin will compete in his first IndyCar series race in the United States next month.

The twotime championship winner has been confirmed as a starter by Team Penske for the series finale in St Petersburg, Florida, on October 25.

McLaughlin was expected to race in the American openwheel championship earlier this year in Indianapolis but the Covid19 pandemic scuppered those plans.

The 27yearold’s American ambitions built momentum after encouraging performances in preseason testing at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas and Sebring International Raceway in Florida.

Since then, McLaughlin has put himself in prime position for a third straight Supercars title, leading the championship by 143 points with three races remaining.

‘‘This is something I haven’t stopped thinking about, but I wanted to ensure my focus was on winning our third straight Supercars championship for DJR Team Penske,’’ the New Zealander said.

‘‘We are still laserfocused on that and have three more rounds to get it done, but I’m equally as excited to finally get the chance and make my IndyCar debut.

‘‘I’ve been doing everything I can to keep up with the series this year, from watching as many races as I can on TV to even talking to the drivers and some of the engineers back at the Team Penske shop.’’

McLaughlin’s IndyCar debut will come just a week after the Supercars seasonending Bathurst 1000 at Mt Panorama on October 18.

The Grand Prix of St Petersburg was originally scheduled for March before being postponed due to the Covid crisis. — RNZ