Scott McLaughlin: ‘Champions are made learning from their mistakes’

New Zealand Indycar driver Scott McLaughlin.
Photo: MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO / AFP

New Zealand driver Scott McLaughlin is still working himself back from the lowest point of his career and is motivated to taste victory again.

McLaughlin had two crashes during last month’s Indianapolis 500 and described the moment as the worst of his career.

McLaughlin, who is now in his fifth year in Indycars, sits eighth in the 2025 standings, 150 points behind championship leader Alex Palou.

The 32-year-old has raced once since his disappointing Indy outing and this weekend competes in the eighth round in St Louis, the venue where he finished second in 2024.

“It was definitely one of, if not, the lowest point of my career,” McLaughlin told media ahead of the latest round.

“I still am a little bit perplexed about what happened, I’ve never done that before in my career.”

McLaughlin said they had a fast car at Indy and had been going well on ovals.

“There is nothing to be upset about apart from the fact that I felt that I wasted a really good opportunity from a pace perspective.

“It was tough but champions are made learning from their mistakes.”

McLaughlin has had four top 10 finishes in seven rounds in 2025, making the podium just once with a third place finish in Alabama. Team Penske is yet to win a race in 2025.

New Zealand driver Scott McLaughlin slides along pit wall before the start of the 2025 Indianapolis 500.
Photo: David Allio/Icon Sportswire / PHOTOSPORT

In the last three years he has finished fourth, third and third in the championship, so he’s motivated to improve on his current eighth position.

“I just want to be the best, I have been driving really well just luck and a couple of mistakes on my side that haven’t worked out.”

He knows he has to make the most of the pace the car is producing.

“We’ve had some positive momentum, it’s just putting the pieces of the puzzle together.

“I’ve been in this sport long enough in Indycars and Supercars that sometimes you can have a fast car and you just don’t put it together.”

Mexican Alex Palou has again been the standout driver this year. The two-time defending champion has a 90 point lead in the championship.

McLaughlin admits Palou has set the benchmark.

“That guys is executing at a really high level and so you have to raise yourself and the team to that level.”

The series is back on an oval at St Louis this weekend and while many foreign drivers are use to road or street courses, McLaughlin now describes himself as “an oval guy.”

“Every time I go on an oval I feel really confident.”

Fellow New Zealander Scott Dixon is seventh in the standings and Marcus Armstrong tenth.

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