Two Team Penske drivers finished on the podium in IndyCar’s season finale in Nashville, with Josef Newgarden taking the win and Scott McLaughlin crossing the line third.
McLaughlin’s podium result was not easy, and required him to survive a tense battle with Kyffin Simpson in the closing laps.
Just after a late restart, McLaughlin and Simpson raced side by side around the 14 degree banking. For five consecutive laps, the two were inseparable and neither was able to pull out an advantage.
Simpson finally pulled ahead for a couple laps, then the Kiwi roared back and once again pinned the sophomore driver down to the apron for the final two laps of the race.
Finally, the final time through Turn 4, McLaughlin pulled out an advantage on the high line and drove under the flag stand in third position to secure his third podium of the season.
“I made sure as soon as [Simpson] got in front of me, I kept that lane open as much as I could,” explained McLaughlin, smiling while talking about the interaction.
“I got a really good run off Turn 1, sort of psyched him to go to defend me. I wasn’t going to pass him on the inside into three. So I cramped his entry. Then I was able to get a really good run through three, four.
“That kid raced me with a lot of respect. He’s getting better and better every week. I really did enjoy racing him. Like I said, probably my best battle ever on an oval.
“These big ovals are great. We need people to come to them. At the end of the day it’s on everyone to work yourselves, everyone be positive, get people coming to our races.”
McLaughlin ended the season 10th in points, significantly down on his performance from the past few years.
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