McLaughlin wins the IndyCar race

Birmingham, Ala. — Scott McLaughlin and Team Penske proved they're a force on the track, no matter what's going on elsewhere.

McLaughlin won his second straight race at Barber Motorsports Park, giving Team Penske a much-needed triumph on Sunday just days after IndyCar erased Josef Newgarden's victory and also disqualified McLaughlin from the season opener.

The team went from damage control to celebration, at least temporarily.

"It was a little emotional for sure," McLaughlin said. "It's just nice. It was just a nice cap after obviously it was a pretty tough week."

McLaughlin and Penske's fuel strategy worked to perfection, with teammate Will Power finishing second — the same order they started in.

Been a rough week

McLaughlin's fifth IndyCar win provided temporary solace after a troubling week for Team Penske, led by series owner Roger Penske. On Wednesday, Newgarden had his season-opening win at St. Petersburg, Florida, stripped for manipulating the push-to-pass function system on his car.

McLaughlin, likewise, was disqualified after finishing third.

Power was docked points —- but surged to within one point of leader Colton Herta — and fined but not disqualified. They bounced back to give Team Penske its eighth win in 14 races at the permanent road course.

"We just had to keep rolling," McLaughlin said.

"We know our job. We know what we need to do. I'm just super proud of our execution."

Reigning Indy 500 winner and two-time series champion Newgarden finished 16th at a race where he had won three times before. He had tearfully acknowledged two days earlier having used the pushto-pass when it wasn't allowed at St. Petersburg, while saying he didn't knowingly break the rules.