Scott McLaughlin knew the style of success lengthy earlier than he ever arrived in IndyCar with Team Penske. In the Australian Supercars collection, he secured three championships and 56 wins with Dick Johnson Racing, setting information alongside the best way. His transition to the IndyCar collection, although, has include a slew of recent attitudes, and considered one of McLaughlin’s favorites is the truth that America properly celebrates its winners.
(Full disclosure: XPEL invited me to the 2023 Hy-Vee IndyCar weekend at Iowa Speedway. It additionally arrange this interview with Scott McLaughlin.)
McLaughlin has had ample alternative to find the best way American motorsport treats a victor. Since his IndyCar debut in 2021, the New Zealander has taken 4 wins and are available near numerous different victories. To him, it’s a a lot completely different world than what he’s used to.
“In America, if someone is doing a good job, it’s because they’re working hard, where I think it’s the opposite in Australia,” he informed me. “If someone is doing well, people think they’re cheating or something.”
McLaughlin is greater than properly conscious of these accusations; in Supercars, McLaughlin or his crew confronted numerous accusations of dishonest, crew order points, and extra — leading to ample quantities of controversy, penalties, fines, and stripped outcomes. For the New Zealander, it was one thing of a “positive culture shock.”
Part of that, he causes, comes all the way down to the best way that completely different cultures acknowledge stars. In Australia and Europe, he famous that “there’s more of a devotion to a team or manufacturer” than in America, the place “a lot more people just support the driver.” He famous that his teammate, Josef Newgarden, has impressed numerous followers to comply with him from smaller groups to the massive leagues of Team Penske as a consequence of his talent and persona, whereas in Supercars, it could be extra prone to see somebody assist the collective of the crew.
“Growing up, I always wanted to be someone. I wanted to be a role model,” he stated. “From Penske’s perspective, we hold ourselves to a high standard for sponsors and fans, and that translates into being a good role model. I have a lot of fun, because Americans really allow you to let your hair down, but there’s always a balance, because people are watching.”
Source: jalopnik.com