Scott McLaughlin, Australian VA Supercar champion, makes his Indycar debut this weekend in the number 3 Chevy powered entry. McLaughlin finished 5th in last Sunday’s Bathurst 1000.
Oliver Askew returns to Arrow McLaren SP for his final drive in the 7 car. Askew missed the Harvest Grand Prix while undergoing treatment for concussion symptoms.
Scott Mclaughlin will getto make his COVID -19 delayed Indycar debut at the season finale in St. Petersburg October 25. Mclaughlin, the two time Australian VA Supercars champion, was originally slated to drive in the GMR Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May. With all racing series scrambling to adjust their schedules this year, Team Penske and Mclaughlin finally found a spot that worked for both of them. Mclaughlin leads the Supercars points with three races remaining.
Penske had brought McLaughlin to the open test in Austin, where he posted the third fastest time. before returning to Australia he took his oval test at Texas Motor Speedway. McLaughlin is expected to be a full time driver for Team Penske in Indycar next season.
“This is something I haven’t stopped thinking about, but I wanted to ensure my focus was on winning our third-straight Supercars championship for DJR Team Penske and all our partners in Australia,” said McLaughlin. “We are still laser-focused on that and have three more rounds to get it done, but I’m equally as excited to finally get the chance and make my INDYCAR debut. I’ve been doing everything I can to keep up with the series this year, from watching as many races as I can on TV to even talking to the drivers and some of the engineers back at the Team Penske shop. I never knew if I would be able to get behind the wheel of one of these cars this year due to all the COVID-19 restrictions, but I wanted to be ready if it became an opportunity.”
McLaughlin will pilot the No. 3 Shell V-Power Nitro+ Dallara/Chevrolet at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which was postponed from its original date in March and will now take place on Sunday, October 25. The race on the 1.8-mile street circuit will be seen live at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, with radio coverage on the Pennzoil INDYCAR Radio Network and SIRIUS XM.
It will be weird seeing the number 3 car without Helio Castroneves in the cockpit. St. Pete signals the end of ties between Team Penske and Castroneves.
The field for the last race has gotten deeper with announcements this week of Sebastien Bourdais driving for A. J. Foyt and now mclaughlin in a Team Penske car. Jimmie Johnson, seven time NASCAR champion, may join the field for the first race in 2021, increasing the field’s depth even more.
We are still awaiting word on whether fans will be allowed to attend the Indycar Harvest Classic and the 8 hour sports car races at IMS the first weekend of October. A positive sign is the the Indianapolis Colts received permission to increase their home attendance to 7,500 for their home game September 27.
Sebring belonged to the newcomers today as rookies Oliver Askew and Rinus VeeKay ran tests for their NTT Indycar Series teams today. Askew shared the Arrow McLaren Sp car with teammate Pato O’Ward while VeeKay became familiar with his Ed Carpenter Racing machine. Two time Australian Supercar champion Scott McLaughlin ran laps in a test for Team Penske. McLaughlin drives for Penske in Australia.
Sage Karam also got some test time in the Dreyer and Reinbold entry. DRR announced last week they will enter four events this year, including the Indianapolis 500. There is a possibility of even more races in 2020.
At times the cars looked like prototypes as they approached the turn where I watched from. The cars with a white band on the framework give this impression more than the black does. While you can still see the drivers’ hands work the steering wheel, it is difficult to see the drivers’ head and helmet at a casual glance. The framework of the aeroscreen and the helmet seem to blend together.
The new protection device is more noticeable when the cars slow for a turn; I got used to it when the cars were at full speed.
A couple of things seemed strange:
A white Ed Carpenter Racing car.
Someone other than a regular in the Penske car.
It was great watching Indycars run again.
The “L” turn on Sebring Parkway as is now a roundabout. I didn’t realize the Mayor of Carmel had a home near the track.
It was sad to see how much of the open fields on the road approaching the track has been sold. The area will have a very different look next year, I’m afraid.
Photo from Team Penske
From the Team Penske news release yesterday:
“Team Penske and XPEL, Inc. (NASDAQ: XPEL) a leading provider of automotive paint protective film and window tint, today announced a multi-year partnership. XPEL will be the primary sponsor of the No. 1 Dallara/Chevrolet driven by reigning and two-time NTT IndyCar Series Champion Josef Newgarden for two races in 2020. XPEL will also serve as the “Official Protective Film Partner of Team Penske.
The partnership with Team Penske – the most successful team in motorsports history – represents the first racing sponsorship for the San Antonio, Texas-based company. Newgarden will race the No. 1 XPEL Dallara/Chevrolet in the INDYCAR Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on May 9 and in the Texas Indy 600 at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) on June 6. XPEL will build on the partnership and become a primary sponsor for a third IndyCar Series race with Team Penske in 2021 and beyond.”
This is a nice looking car with hints of a Shell livery from a few years ago.
It’s always good to see another sponsor in Indycar. I am also glad to see the Newgarden will carry the No. 1 on his car. I think the series should require the champion to do so every year.
Photo: Team Penske
Back to back Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin will drive a Team Penske Indycar at a January 13 test at Sebring. McLaughlin drives for DJR Team Penske in Virgin Australia Supercars. He won a record 18 races this year. Since joining the team in 2017, McLaughlin has won 35 times to go along with 44 poles in taking series title in 2018 and 2019.
I don’t expect an Indycar ride to happen from this test. Right now It is a reward for achievement in Supercars, but with of Penske’s current NTT Indycar Series drivers approaching retirement, maybe he’ll be in the series in a few years.
The link to the full story:
bit.ly/2qTrqPK
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 