Yes, New Zealand driver Scott McLaughlin wanted to win Saturday’s (Sunday NZ Time) IndyCar series race at Iowa Speedway.
But after doing so he acknowledged wanting something much more, something he has been driven to earn since arriving in the US nearly four years ago. McLaughlin has wanted to belong.
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“I didn’t want to call myself an IndyCar driver until I won on an oval,” he said after winning the Homefront 250. “So, I’m going to call myself an IndyCar driver now.”
McLaughlin earned that distinction in style, too, dominated the 250-lap race and holding off Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward through a series of late-race restarts.
McLaughlin's Penske teammate Josef Newgarden, who had won four of the past five Iowa races and nine of the past 12 oval races, including the past two Indianapolis 500s, finished third, with fellow Kiwi Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing finishing fourth.
Look at those McLaughlin had to fend off: They are among the best oval racers in this series with a combined 39 such victories. Yes, McLaughlin now belongs.
“That’s a big deal today,” McLaughlin said. “I’ve been working for that for a couple of years. It takes a lot of hard work.”
McLaughlin gets a chance at the Iowa sweep on Sunday (Monday NZT) when he starts the One Step 250 from the pole. He also will have another chance to climb higher in the standings as the victory pushed him forward three positions to fifth place with seven races remaining.
McLaughlin praised the crew of the No 3 Chevrolet for their hand in the victory. It was the team’s quick service on the race’s first stop under caution that helped McLaughlin edge pole sitter and race leader Colton Herta by a foot at the blend line at pit exit. McLaughlin was never headed.
“What got it done tonight was the pit stops by the team,” McLaughlin said. “They got out in front of Herta there and then we showed our pace.”
McLaughlin led the final 164 laps for his sixth career series victory. He also became just the third active driver to win a series race at this track, joining Newgarden and O’Ward. His margin over O’Ward at the finish was .4814 seconds.
Defending champion Alex Palou’s cushy lead in the standings took a bit of a hit as a result. He entered this event with a 48-point advantage on his nearest competitor. The margin is now 37 points over O’Ward, with Will Power third, 43 points out of the lead. Dixon trails Palou by 46, McLaughlin by 59.
Herta started on the pole on an oval track for the first time in his career, and he led the first 86 laps before McLaughlin edged past him on that pit stop.
Dixon's Chip Ganassi teammate Marcus Armstrong made it three Kiwis in the top-10, finishing 10th after starting ninth on the grid.
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