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SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN No. 3 PENNZOIL CHEVROLET
START: 1ST
FINISH: 6TH
POINTS: 6TH (-52)
RACE RUNDOWN: Scott McLaughlin led a race-high 64 laps in the No. 3 Pennzoil Chevrolet in Sunday’s 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 before finishing sixth, his career-best finish in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” The New Zealander started the 200-lap race from the pole position – his first Indianapolis 500 pole position and 19th for Team Penske – as he looked to become the second Kiwi to win the race. McLaughlin was able to maintain his track position at the front of the field through the first 150 laps, routinely overcoming differing pit strategies with powerful passes back to the lead after several restarts. Unfortunately, a Lap 147 caution period saw him get shuffled further back in the pack than he had been previously following a trip to pit lane. The ensuing restart saw McLaughlin lose a few more positions before settling in at the back of the top 10. On the strength of his Chevrolet, McLaughlin was able to fight his way back through the field to the sixth position before running out of laps.
MCLAUGHLIN’S THOUGHTS: “I am happy to be frustrated with a sixth-place finish in the biggest race in the world. This Pennzoil Chevrolet was definitely good enough to win the race. I think we showed that to everyone, but you need a bit of good fortune to win the Indianapolis 500. To run up front and lead the most laps was a big step in my Indianapolis 500 career. Everyone at Team Penske and Chevrolet worked tirelessly to make sure we were in the game this month, and I can’t thank them enough. Congratulations to Josef and the No. 2 team. To do something that hasn’t been done since 2002 is unbelievable.”
