News
SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN No. 3 DEX IMAGING CHEVROLET
START: 1ST
FINISH: 4TH
POINTS: 4TH (-16)
RACE RUNDOWN: Scott McLaughlin and the No. 3 DEX Imaging Chevrolet team started from the pole position in Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg – their second NTT P1 Award in four years at the season opener – before finishing fourth after an opening lap caution flag proved detrimental to their strategy. McLaughlin’s 70th Team Penske pole award allowed the New Zealander to lead the field to the green flag and control the first half of the race, but a caution flag on the opening lap allowed several competitors to come to pit lane to remove the Firestone alternate tires while McLaughlin remained on track on the harder compound tires. Strategist Kyle Moyer would call for the alternate tires to be applied to the No. 3 Chevy on the second pit stop of the day and the softer compound allowed McLaughlin to race out to a 12-second lead before Moyer quickly called him back down pit lane for a return to the Firestone primary tires. As the differing pit cycles played out, McLaughlin remained at the front of the field. Ultimately, several of those that pitted on the first lap were at the front as the laps wound down to relegate McLaughlin to a fourth-place finish.
MCLAUGHLIN’S THOUGHTS: “The yellow on the first lap really hurt us, but we knew going in, that was the risk of running the black tire. We wanted a solid race, and I thought the risky strategy was starting on the green. Ultimately it was the other way around but we had great pace today and I’m really proud of everyone. We were ultimately a pit stop behind, but we knew that was the risk of running the blacks. I think if there was no yellow first lap, we’re gone. It is what it is. Great day for the DEX Imaging Chevy. Good points. Great start to the year. A pole and a fourth, I can’t be unhappy with that.”
