Scott McLaughlin started his 2026 IndyCar season right where he had left off the past year, on the podium; this time it was at St. Pete. In fact, the Penske driver ended the race in the top 3 for the last three consecutive rounds in a row. This follows a rather unsuccessful first half of 2025.
A strong performance…
McLaughlin definitely enjoyed his first official outing of 2026, displaying consistent pace. It allowed him to secure an impressive pole position. He was the lead Team Penske’s runner with P2 on Sunday.
He had a great start, which allowed him to remain out at front for the first stint. Ultimately, Alex Palou’s recovery to his first year of the win was aided by a well-timed pit stop as he delivered incredible fuel mileage.
However, the Kiwi definitely maximised his day, taking into account the simply relentless consistency of the eventual race winner. Overall, Scott McLaughlin had a positive feeling following his St. Pete IndyCar racing weekend, as he discussed after the end of the race:
“Obviously you want to be top step. I think that was a solid day for us, we maximized our strategy. I think it was going to go one way or the other with tyres.
“Maybe I thought the black tyre could have probably performed a little bit better in that first stint, but yeah, my car just didn’t turn that tyre on well enough. Wanted to pull a gap, but I was also trying to save fuel and make it a two-stop in some ways.”
…but not enough for the top spot
The early pit strategy didn’t pay off as much as the Penske strategical team had thought, which led him to a rather challenging moment. In fact, Scott McLaughlin remained behind Ericsson and then Kirkwood for several laps in the final two stints, which definitely didn’t allow him to extract the full potential out of his car no. 3.
“Yeah, it was a difficult first stint, and then I sort of got stuck behind the Andretti guys when they were losing their tyres. I thought our car was really good. Just probably was a little bit hidden today just where it was position on track, but that’s okay. Like I said, I think we maximized our day. No mistakes. Pit road was great. Yeah, just good start.”
Overtaking Kirkwood
As the race proceeded, McLaughlin was eventually able to get by Kyle Kirkwood with seven laps left, settling in ahead of Arrow McLaren’s Lundgaard, who ended the day right behind in third.
”I knew I had a window to pass him before my tyres went as well, and I think I just got him maybe like a lap before my tyres went. Then I was sort of hanging on in front of CL.
“It was a good day overall, and I felt really good. My driving was good, and it was, yeah, solid execution. Yeah, I think we’ve had a really good run the last [races] , even looking back at the end of last season. I thought we found our mojo a little bit and then this weekend as well.
“Knew this was going to be a strong track, and I had to make the most of it. But, yeah, I think it was solid from my side,” the Kiwi wrapped up, excited to have such a strong start of the season, and even more so at the beginning of a triple header.
New beginnings for IndyCar driver McLaughlin at St. Pete
Asked if he believes some drivers, including Marcus Ericsson, were racing too boldly for the first raceday of the year, the Penske driver dismissed this. McLaughlin explained that the entire IndyCar grid is composed of talented drivers, and that in St. Pete driving standards were elevantesi as usual.
“From my end, pretty standard, and the guys that I was racing, I have raced probably four or five years today, and they’re the guys that I have raced with in the past and very fair, very clean and hard. Yes, it’s what you sort of expect.”
This racing weekend also marked the beginning of a new partnership, as seasoned championship winner race engineer Raul Prados replaced McLaughlin’s previous assistant Ben Bretzman after his promotion to Engineering Manager of Competition.
”Raul and me, I think we just missed the balance a little bit, probably being a little bit cautious and not trying to throw away a good car, but it was still decent. I just think it was a really solid day for us on the 3 car.”
