McLaughlin on Indy 500 crash: 'I still am a little bit perplexed'
Scott McLaughlin doesn't mince words about the moment that derailed his Indianapolis 500 dream.
The Kiwi IndyCar driver crashed out before the race had even started, spinning on the warm-up lap and slamming into the wall in a rare, rattling mistake.
"I still am a little bit perplexed about what happened in that scenario and how it did," he told 1News. "Never sort of done that before in my career."
It capped off a nightmare month that began with promise and ended with wrecked cars, lost opportunity, and questions he was still attempting to answer.
ADVERTISEMENT
"That whole month was pretty tough. It started really well and then obviously ended in a couple of bad ways with my crash before that, and then crashing another brand new car.
"Yeah, look, it was definitely one of, if not the lowest point of my career, but there's something that I'll learn from.
McLaughlin's response was immediate: get back behind the wheel.
Kiwi IndyCar driver Scott McLaughlin. (Source: 1News)
"The best thing for me, after a week after that, was getting back in the race car. And, you know, felt really good even if it wasn't the most ideal result either.'
While Indy was the most public blow, it had been a turbulent season all round. His team, Penske, was hit with a cheating scandal for illegal use of engine software. He's also been at the centre of social media run-ins, including one with former IndyCar champ Tony Kanaan.
Still, McLaughlin's belief hasn't wavered.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We've had the pace to win races we just haven't put it together. A little bit of luck, little bit of making mistakes, bits and pieces."
He opened the year with a pole position in St. Petersburg, grabbed a podium at Barber, and now turns his focus to this weekend's Bommarito 500 in St. Louis a track where he won pole and finished second last year.
"I truly believe we have a fast car. I feel really strong on ovals. Do I enjoy ovals more? And I have to say, I do now. It's such a refreshing change for me in my career. Every time I go on an oval, I feel really confident and definitely feel like that's my kettle of fish."
Scott McLaughlin opened up about his horror run at the Indy 500. (Source: 1News)
He would enter the race sitting eighth in the standings, with championship leader Alex Palou well ahead but not out of reach.
"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. It's not your year. I don't believe it's not my year yet."
"I certainly need to get on the train and start winning races or, you know, getting some consistency back."
ADVERTISEMENT
There's added pride behind the wheel, too. McLaughlin's long-time sponsor, Gallagher Insurance, has partnered with the All Blacks — a team he had supported since childhood.
"It's full circle. They've sponsored me here in America and now they're an associate of the All Blacks. I'd love to try get some of the boys out to a race vice versa."
After a month of setbacks, McLaughlin was focused on the one thing that matters now — turning pace into results.
Watch the full interview on TVNZ+
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
9 hours ago
- RNZ News
All Blacks lose key players ahead of opening test
An injury cloud hovers over the All Blacks ahead of the team's first game of the season as Scott Robertson has lost a couple of key players who will sit out the opening test against France this weekend. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
9 hours ago
- RNZ News
All Blacks countdown: ‘The goal is to play everyone'
All Blacks v France Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 5 July Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Live blog updates on RNZ Sport Scott Robertson is intending to use all of his available squad plus injury replacements for the three test series with France. The season opens this Saturday in front of a sold out Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, and while the expectation is that he will name an experienced side on Thursday, all six new players will see the field in the next three weeks. "That's the art of it isn't it? You know, like, you want to give everyone a possible go," said Robertson in Auckland when asked about how he will manage his squad. "I've said look there's my plan to you know but we don't want to be held…on it because things do happen. But the goal is to play everyone, and you want to get some combinations, cohesion. That is our advantage at the moment. If we if we make it that way with guys that have played footy together, and then you get the balance of how many changes over the series." Prop Ollie Norris, hooker Brodie McAlister, lock Fabian Holland, loose forwards Du'Plessis Kirifi and Christian Lio-Willie, and midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai are all in line to become test players after strong Super Rugby Pacific seasons. Du'Plessis Kirifi, Fabian Holland and Timoci Tavatavanawai. Photo: Michael Bradley/ActionPress However, the news isn't as great for prop Tamaiti Williams , who will require surgery on his knee. The injury will keep him sidelined for six to eight weeks, a big blow for the powerful All Black front row rotation. Williams injured the knee against the Reds in the Crusaders' play-off match against the Reds, however returned to play in the final a fortnight later. "It's tough, you know, he's obviously been in great form. But he'll rehab quickly and he's in good hands," said Robertson. The All Black coach stopped short of addressing whether or not Williams should have played the final, which the Crusaders won 19-12 over the Chiefs. "Well he played and we're here right now. So they're the facts." Fellow Crusaders George Bower has come into the squad as injury cover and looks set to resume his test career after last playing for the All Blacks in 2022. Photo: PhotoSport / Martin Hunter Robertson said that while France have sent an understrength team, the All Blacks still had plenty to play for. They have lost to the French three times in a row over the last four years and haven't beaten them since 2018. "One thing with the French is they've got depth. (Coach Fabien Galthié)'s created depth previously over the last six years that he's had the squad. All those young, exciting players that've come through, French rugby's in good stead, in a good position." Robertson is expecting a tough battle when the series begins. "This is when they're probably at the most dangerous, when they're underestimated, aren't they? It's quite nice that (the media) tell the story, that they're depleted and all that, and then they get their backs up and then we get a ferocious French team."
RNZ News
11 hours ago
- RNZ News
All Blacks' Tamaiti Williams ruled out after meniscus tear injury
Tamaiti Williams during the All Blacks captains run, Eden Park. Photo: Lynne Cameron/ActionPress All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams has been ruled out of the three tests against France as he will require surgery for a torn meniscus. Williams, who plays for the champion Crusaders, pulled up with a painful knee following the Super Rugby final and scans revealed the tear. Assessment by a surgeon on Monday morning confirmed surgery would be required. Williams is the second All Blacks forward to miss the series, which begins on Saturday in Dunedin, through injury. Loose forward Wallace Sititi has been ruled out with an ankle injury and replaced by Christian Lio-Willie. Coach Scott Robertson has called George Bower into the squad to replace Williams. Twenty-two test cap All Black Bower has not played for New Zealand since late 2022, leading many to speculate that he would make a switch of national allegiance to Fiji. However, in April Bower extended his stay in New Zealand rugby signing on until 2027. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
