Roger Penske’s Third Driver Opens Up About the Mounting Pressure Under Disastrous Circumstances

Scott McLaughlin Opens Up: Inside Team Penske’s Storm of Scandal and Redemption

The 2024 IndyCar season was supposed to be another triumphant chapter for Team Penske, a squad synonymous with speed and precision. Instead, it’s become a story of scandal, shattered trust, and three drivers—including Scott McLaughlin, the team’s so-called “third wheel”—fighting to salvage their reputations under a cloud of controversy.

The Scandal That Rocked IndyCar

It all unraveled in March. During qualifying for the St. Petersburg Grand Prix, Team Penske was caught red-handed using IndyCar’s “push-to-pass” system—a boost button that gives drivers a temporary horsepower surge—when it was strictly banned. The fallout was brutal: Josef Newgarden’s victory was stripped, the team was slapped with a $400,000 fine, and key personnel, including team president Tim Cindric, were suspended. For a legendary organization like Penske, it wasn’t just a mistake—it felt like a betrayal of their own legacy.

“You work your whole career to earn respect in this sport,” McLaughlin admitted in a recent interview, his usual upbeat demeanor tinged with frustration. “Then, in one weekend, it feels like you’re starting from zero.”

McLaughlin: The Third Driver Under Fire

At 31, McLaughlin—a three-time Supercars champion from New Zealand—has always been the underdog in Penske’s star-studded lineup, overshadowed by veterans Newgarden and Will Power. But the scandal thrust him into an uncomfortable spotlight. “I’ve never dealt with anything like this,” he confessed. “Every interview, every fan interaction… you see the doubt in their eyes. It’s crushing.”

The penalties hit hard. Points were docked, prize money vanished, and the team’s morale cratered. At the Indianapolis 500, a race Penske had dominated in 2023, McLaughlin limped to 14th place while Newgarden and Power crashed out. “We’re racing with one hand tied behind our backs,” McLaughlin said. “But no one wants to hear excuses.”

The Human Toll: “We’re Not Robots”

Behind the headlines, the team is grappling with guilt and pressure. Mechanics work late nights to fix cars, while drivers field endless questions about “cheating.” McLaughlin, known for his candor, didn’t sugarcoat it: “You feel like you’re letting people down—your family, your fans, even yourself. We’re not robots. This stuff keeps you up at night.”

Even Roger Penske, the 87-year-old racing titan, seemed shaken. “This is a humiliation,” he told reporters, uncharacteristically subdued. For a man who built his empire on integrity, the scandal struck at the heart of his reputation.

Fans React: Anger, Heartbreak, and Hope

The racing community is split. Social media buzzes with outrage—“How could Penske stoop this low?”—while die-hard fans rally behind the drivers. At a recent meet-and-greet, a tearful fan handed McLaughlin a letter: “Don’t let this break you. We still believe.”

“That’s what keeps us going,” McLaughlin said. “We owe it to those people to fight back.”

What’s Next? The Long Road Back

The road to redemption starts now. With suspended staff returning, Team Penske is scrambling to rebound at races like Road America and Mid-Ohio. But the points gap is wide, and rivals like Chip Ganassi Racing smell blood.

For McLaughlin, the goal is simple: “Win clean. Win loud. And prove we’re still the team to beat.” It won’t be easy, but as he put it, “Pressure either crushes you or turns you into diamonds. We’re not done shining yet.”

The Bottom Line:
This isn’t just a story about rules broken or trophies lost. It’s about humans navigating failure, public scrutiny, and the grind to rebuild trust. As McLaughlin said, “Racing’s in our blood. We’ll fix this—one lap at a time.”

Follow the journey—and the drama—on IndyCar’s social feeds or tune into NBC Sports for race updates. 🏁