MADISON, Ill. — After an off weekend, the NTT IndyCar Series returns to competition with a rare Sunday night race at World Wide Technology Raceway.
The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 begins a stretch of six events over a seven-weekend stretch for the series, which represents an opportunity for the drivers and teams who got off to slow starts over the first seven events of the season.
Team Penske hasn’t won a race so far this season and WWTR represents a track where the team has succeeded in the past. Driver Scott McLaughlin met the media on Wednesday to discuss the upcoming weekend at the 1.25-mile track.
McLaughlin, who has finished fifth, fourth, third and second at WWTR, said the style of racing there is a good fit for him.
“It’s probably the closest that you have on an oval or a short track oval that we have that we go to, kind of replicates a road course in some ways,” McLaughlin explained. “Just fast, sweeping corners, turns three and four. One and two is tight and twisty. Down a couple gears using the brakes a little bit. That’s another thing, it’s very unusual to use a brake pedal on an oval in an Indy car. We do that every lap.
“I just really enjoy that. I enjoy that style of racing. Definitely started to come into my own a little bit,” he added. “I got asked sort of last week do I enjoy ovals more. I have to say I do now. I think it’s like such a refreshing change for me in my career. Every time I go on an oval, I feel really confident, definitely feel like it’s my kettle of fish. I really enjoy that.”
McLaughlin is excited about racing under the lights.
“We’re always crying for a nighttime race. I think it’s really cool we’re doing it this year,” he said. “It’s going to be great for what the cars look like, how the track races, as you said.
I don’t know. I think we can get that second groove working really well. High line practice, the track takes the grip really well, too. Yeah, seemed to sort of make it work.
“It’s a credit to Firestone, IndyCar and the choices they make in terms of the aerodynamics and whatnot. Four or five years ago, it wasn’t quite like that. Definitely been improvements from the sporting side, but also us as drivers getting up there in the high line practice, doing it properly, clearing that second lane up. I think the key to any oval is getting that second lane working for us. That’s been an ideal thing the last few years.”
McLaughlin is eighth in the standings heading to WWTR, 147 points behind Alex Palou, who has won five of the seven races this season.
“Palou is on a hot streak, for sure. He’s got the momentum. Momentum is a real thing,” McLaughlin said. “I personally think the start of my year prior to Indy was pretty strong, one of my strongest. Just one guy had won four out of five races at that point. He’s done it again.
I guess you can’t dwell too much on the fact we haven’t won a race yet.
“We go to strong tracks. I think we showed really good pace. Just haven’t put it together. A little bit of luck, a little bit of making mistakes, bits and pieces. There’s a lot of things going on.
I felt like we’ve been there or thereabouts pace-wise. We just haven’t quite executed. That’s on us. We’ll work hard.”
The New Zealand racer, who is in his fifth season in the IndyCar Series, knows things can turn around quickly.
“I’ve been in this sport long enough, not just IndyCar, but Supercars as well, sometimes you can have a fast car and you just don’t put it together,” he said. “It’s not your year. I don’t believe it is not my year yet. I certainly need to get on the train and start winning races, getting some consistency bag, at least trying to slow down Alex a little bit.
“Like I said before, that guy is executing at a really high level. You’ve just got to try to raise yourself to that level – not only you but your team and everyone. You can’t look at it like we’re terrible. I personally think we’ve been really, really strong. Just the pieces haven’t fallen right now. I’ve just got to keep going.”
