New Zealand driver Scott McLaughlin has won his first IndyCar race.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
After gaining his first pole position yesterday, McLaughlin held on to win the season-opening Grand Prix of St Petersburg in Florida.
The Team Penske driver finished just over half a second ahead of reigning series champion Alex Palou of Spain, who applied heavy pressure to McLaughlin over the closing laps as they raced among lapped traffic.
McLaughlin, 28, led the final 21 laps after inheriting the lead on a pit stop by fellow New Zealander Scott Dixon, who was on a different strategy.
Australian Will Power finished third.
Dixon finished eighth.
"I'm exhausted," McLaughlin told NBC. "What a day. I'm out of breath here. It was crazy. I really struggled the last couple of laps to keep my head and save the fuel, but we did it. It's unreal. Love you in Australia and New Zealand and miss you guys."
McLaughlin moved from Australian Supercars at the end of the 2020 season and finished 14th overall in his rookie season in IndyCars.
It was only the second podium finish in 18 IndyCar starts, his best finish was second at Texas last year.
McLaughlin led 49 of the 100 laps, while the victory was the 223rd for Team Penske.
Round two is in Texas in three weeks.