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‘Feeling rejuvenated’: McLaughlin primed for new IndyCar season
Savannah Lendich Jonkers • February 27th, 2026 2:58 pm
Photo: AP
Kiwi IndyCar racer Scott McLaughlin has a renewed focus as he gears up for the streets of St. Petersburg this weekend.
On Friday, McLaughlin told Stephen McIvor on Sport Nation’s The Rural Roundup that after a frustrating 2025 season, he’s hungry to get back on the track.
“I thought we were pretty fast (last year),” McLaughlin said.
“Maybe not quite as quick as Àlex Palou, but we just didn’t execute when we were fast, and that's something that we've been very good at over the last few seasons when we finished in the top three.”
Former President of Team Penske and father of NASCAR Cup Series winner Austin Cindric, Tim Cindric, returns to Team Penske as the team strategist this year, which McLaughlin believes is a huge boost.
“Nine times out of 10, Tim's calls are the right ones and I'm so lucky to have a guy that’s had so many race wins, championships and (Indy) 500s on my stand.
“He is not focused on anything else but race strategy, which for me is phenomenal.”
Will Power leading New Zealander Scott McLaughlin in an IndyCar race at Iowa Speedway | Photo: AP
McLaughlin's former engineer Ben Bretzman has also moved on in the Penske organisation, making room for Raul Prados to fill the position, another who shares some history with the Kiwi.
“He's a guy that I've known since I really joined the team in 2017, back in the Supercars days. He loves motorsport and we've got quite a close bond.”
Last year at St. Petersburg, McLaughlin started off pole position and finished fourth in the race behind last year’s Indy500 champion Alex Palou, fellow Kiwi Scott Dixon, and back-to-back Indy500 winner Josef Newgarden.
Being the first race of the year and first of three in a row, McLaughlin said this is an important race to get the momentum going.
“Thankfully the last three or four years we've run the same set up going into St Pete's.
“I know that car well and I don't see that changing any time soon, so that's a big feather in my cap still before the race starts.”
Qualifying starts at 10.30am, Sunday (NZ time) ahead of Monday’s race (6am).
Listen to the full interview below:
