Scott McLaughlin heads into the Road America weekend with a clear goal: turn his season’s ups and downs into a strong result for Team Penske. The 33‑year‑old New Zealander, who described the early part of the 2026 IndyCar campaign as a rollercoaster, hopes the circuit will provide the breakthrough he’s seeking.
After nine rounds McLaughlin sits seventh in the drivers’ championship, having collected two podium finishes and five top‑ten results. The consistency shows promise, but Penske’s “teething problems” in car development have kept the team from challenging the front‑runners more regularly.
If the team can resolve those early‑season issues, McLaughlin believes Road America could be the venue where he climbs back into the podium mix and strengthens his title fight for the second half of the season.
