SCOTT McLaughlin reflects on his Indianapolis 500 nightmare last year with a mix of hurt and laughter.
The Kiwi infamously crashed out on the pace lap, having been due to start from 10th.
It was the icing on the cake of a bitter period for Team Penske in which it became engulfed in an IndyCar technical breach scandal that resulted in high-profile sackings.
Speaking on IndyCar’s The Offseason program, McLaughlin addressed all sorts of matters including that moment at the Brickyard.
“It was really tough in the moment and probably for months after,” he said.
“You look back on it now, like I still haven’t watched the race.
“I don’t want to watch the race because I just know that I’m a big part of the start and it sucks.
“But at the same time, I laugh about it. It was probably the stupidest thing I’ve done, or the silliest moment that’s ever happened to me, but ultimately everyone makes a mistake and honestly that was just something that got from under me.
“As long as my family, my team and everyone is behind me, there’s no point looking backwards, just keep going.”
McLaughlin also touched on his leap of faith to quit Supercars at the end of 2020 in order to pursue IndyCar.
“Definitely halfway through the first year I was like, ‘what the hell am I doing?’ Like I could have just sat there (in Australia) and won another championship or have been close to it or doing what I knew,” he confessed.
“But for me, once I had won a championship and Bathurst, I’m the type of guy that once I’ve done something, I want to try what’s next on the agenda.
“It’s always been who I am and I think that comes from my family.”
Other topics in the chat included McLaughlin’s love of fatherhood and the United States, where he is now a citizen (dual status with his native New Zealand).
“I don’t see myself leaving this country even after my racing career has finished,” he said.
The 2026 IndyCar Series opens in early March on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.