McLaughlin claims second IndyCar win
Three-time Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin has won his second IndyCar race.
McLaughlin, who won in St. Petersburg earlier this year, beat Alex Palou and Will Power at Mid-Ohio on Monday morning AEST.
The 56-time Supercars race winner has been plying his trade in IndyCar full-time since 2021.
The win moves McLaughlin up to seventh in the IndyCar standings, 69 points off the lead.
McLaughlin emerged in the lead from Palou midway through the race, with pole man Pato O’Ward suffering power issues.
The race featured six caution periods, keeping Palou in the hunt for McLaughlin.
McLaughlin took victory by a margin of 0.551s from the reigning IndyCar champion.
Australian Power, who spun on lap 1, was three seconds further back in third.
McLaughlin, the 2019 Bathurst 1000 winner, still believes he is in with a shout for the 2022 title.
The win ends a tough run; after his St. Petersburg win and Texas podium, he failed to score a top five over the next five rounds.
It came with parents Wayne and Diane on site at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
It was the first time McLaughlin's parents had seen their son claim an IndyCar win.
"I just never give up," said McLaughlin, who became just the second multi-race winner of the season.
"In IndyCar, things can change in a heartbeat, so I’ve just got to keep just building every race.
"I’ve just got to to keep making the most of the situation that I’ve got.
"That’s something that I probably didn’t do the last sort of month, so I’m excited for what’s ahead.
"I really wanted to get a win here with mom and dad for the first time.
"To have mom and dad here on America’s weekend is awesome."
It was confirmed earlier this year that a McLaughlin Bathurst return is on ice until at least 2023.
Alex Davison and Tony D’Alberto have been retained as Shell V-Power Racing Team’s co-drivers.
The 2022 IndyCar season will resume in Toronto in a fortnight.
The Supercars season this weekend resumes in Townsville, where McLaughlin won four races.
Cars will hit the track for dual practice sessions on Friday. Purchase your NTI Townsville 500 tickets now.
