IndyCar star Scott McLaughlin of Christchurch, New Zealand and his wife, Karli, recently had the couple’s first child – Lucy Violet on October 10, 2024.
He celebrated by announcing Friday that he has signed a contract extension to remain at Team Penske’s IndyCar team.
McLaughlin was one of the star drivers in Australian SuperCars and made the jump to IndyCar full-time in 2021. He finished third in the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series Championship, the highest of any Team Penske driver.
McLaughlin made the announcement on X on February 28 at St. Petersburg, Florida before the first day of live action for the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series season.
“We’re LIVE and ready for a big 2025!” McLaughlin said in the post. “Signed a long-term extension in the off-season with Team Penske and have been absolutely 100% focused on prep for this year. Let’s kick this season off right! STRAIGHT. TO. THE. MOON.”
Later during IndyCar’s Media “Bullpen” McLaughlin explained his situation to a group of reporters. He confirmed that he signed it over the offseason.
“I just didn’t want to have any questions, move forward and get on with it,” McLaughlin said. “I love the team being here and it just was just nice to get some security, especially now being a dad.
“Once I got my feet on the ground, I love it here and see being here for the rest of my career. I’m applying for my citizenship in the United States and hope to be here for a long time.
“It was pretty easy because we all have the same goals.”
Two-time IndyCar Series champion and 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power announced during January’s IndyCar Content Days in Indianapolis that he had signed with Formula One driver Fernando Alonso’s A14 management team. Former IndyCar driver Oriol Servia is A14’s North American representative and is Power’s new manager as they try to negotiate a deal with Team Penske.
Power’s contract with Team Penske concludes at the end of 2025 and a decision likely won’t be made until after the Indianapolis 500 in May.
Two-time defending Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden announced he had signed an extension with KLUTCH Sports – a management firm owned by NBA champion LeBron James and his business partner Rich Paul.
“KLUTCH Sports Group has signed its first professional racing client, 2x IndyCar racing champion Josef Newgarden,” the agency announced.
Newgarden is the agency’s first racing client.
The 2025 NTT IndyCar Series season begins with Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. But the business of racing has already begun with these driver team contract developments.
“I’ve always trusted the process,” McLaughlin said when asked if he would like to try NASCAR while at Team Penske. “They’ve done everything they can for me for my career, and I’m in a great spot right now. I spot where I never thought I would be, and that’s all because I’ve sort of just trusted where they put me. I trusted that IndyCar would be right for me, and they put me here.
“I’ve spoken to RP (Roger Penske) about it, and he’s joked about me racing Shane van Gisbergen again or whatever, but it’s, it’s all fun stuff now.
“But I’m sure you know, if I keep doing the results here, maybe the opportunity will happen one day.”
What began as a day of celebration, ended with a setback as McLaughlin’s No. 3 Chevrolet made hard left-side contact into the barrier in Turn 3. The car sustained a suspension failure and stopped on course. McLaughlin climbed from the car without assistance from the AMR IndyCar Safety Team.
He was seen and released from the IndyCar Medical Unit.
“It was a mistake on my part,” McLaughlin said. “I was a little wide at the exit of Turn 3 and there is a bit of a bump there. That put me wider than I wanted to be and into the wall.”
Read the full article here
