McLaughlin crowned IndyCar Rookie of the Year

Scott McLaughlin has been crowned IndyCar Rookie of the Year at the Long Beach season finale.

The three-time Supercars champion became the first Team Penske driver in the team’s history to win the rookie title.

Andretti Autosport’s Colton Herta beat McLaughlin’s teammate Josef Newgarden to victory in the race.

Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou finished fourth to become the first Spanish driver to win the overall drivers’ title.

McLaughlin crossed the line 11th, which was enough to see the 56-time Supercars race winner clinch rookie honours.

Chip Ganassi Racing driver and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson had also been vying for rookie honours, but was out of the running heading to Long Beach.

It was a solid maiden season in IndyCar for McLaughlin, whose challenger for the rookie gong was former Formula One driver Romain Grosjean.

Just 20 points separated McLaughlin and Grosjean in the title chase heading to Long Beach.

Grosjean had claimed three podiums heading into the Long Beach finale, but an early incident ended his day early.

McLaughlin only needed to finish the race to clinch rookie honours, and did so with 11th.

The 28-year-old finished 13th overall with one podium finish, which came at Texas Motor Speedway earlier in the year.

McLaughlin also claimed rookie honours at the Indianapolis 500 in May.

He was inducted into New Zealand Motorsport's Wall of Fame in May, and is slated to race for the Shell V-Power Racing Team at December's Repco Bathurst 1000.

"I finally got [the car] to my liking the last six or seven races," McLaughlin told the broadcast after the race.

"Really excited for next year. This year was a foundation year; all about building. I feel like I've done that.

"Hopefully I can be a little bit further up next year... every area I need to get better."