Mclaughlin moved by win on demand for his parents

Scott Mclaughlin has picked up his second career Indycar victory, a result which might go down as one of the most special wins of his career.

The New Zealander won at Midohio Sports Car Course with his nervous parents watching from pit lane. Mclaughlin had not seen his family in 31 months because of the pandemic, but his parents finally were able to leave New Zealand in May to attend the Indianapolis 500.

Wayne and Diane Mclaughlin booked their trip to maximise their visas and planned nine Indycar races on their tour of the United States. It took just four to see their son drive his Team Penske entry to victory lane.

“I’m just so excited for him just that he could get a win while we were here,” Wayne Mclaughlin told the Associated Press in victory lane. “I knew he wanted to do that, but we’d never talked about it because we didn’t want to put any pressure on him. What an amazing result.”

When he won his first race in February on the street course in St. Petersburg, Florida, he had to celebrate with his parents via Facetime.

“I really wanted to get a win here with Mum and Dad,” said Mclaughlin, who had won three consecutive V8 Supercars championships in Australia.

The race took a turn when five different Chevrolet drivers were knocked out with various problems, and Andretti Autosport began battling internally.

Alexander Rossi and Romain Grosjean kept bumping wheel-towheel and their final contact knocked the steering wheel out of Rossi’s hands, leaving him unable to turn as both cars went off course.

“What the hell is wrong with him?” Grosjean screamed.

I really wanted to get a win here with Mum and Dad.

Scott Mclaughlin

He was less than pleased to receive team orders to aid Rossi’s finish. “What do you want me to do? Just block everyone behind and not go ahead?” Grosjean asked.

Told that yes, Andretti Autosport expected Grosjean to hold up traffic to help his team-mates, the Frenchman declined.

“Because Rossi put me in the wall, so I am not going to protect him,” Grosjean replied. Grosjean was then informed of the stakes via team radio: “Rossi is not a lap down, you are.”

Rossi finished 19th, Grosjean was 21st and Colton Herta spun mid-race and finished 15th, best of the Andretti fleet.

Mclaughlin’s fellow Kiwi, Scott Dixon, came home in fifth.