Source: Radio New Zealand
Scott McLaughlin celebrates his IndyCar pole position at St Petersburg. Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire
Kiwi Scott McLaughlin has grabbed pole position for the IndyCar St Petersburg Grand Prix in Florida on Monday NZT.
After a horror 2025 campaign that saw him finish 10th in the standings, with no race wins and just one pole, McLaughlin was quickest around the 2.9km street circuit, clocking 1m 00.5426s to edge Swede Marcus Ericsson (1m 00.5621), who will join him on the front row for the main race.
“Raul [Prados], my new engineer, gave me a great car, but we have a lot of experience here with a great car, as well,” McLaughlin said.
“Just really pumped. Everybody knows the slog we went through last year, so to start on this note is fantastic.
“Bloody good, bloody good.”
The three-time Australian Supercars champion had shown good form throughout the weekend, finishing fastest in the first practice session (1m 01.1020s) and seventh in practice two (1m 01.7921s).
After putting his car into a wall during practice, Kiwi veteran Sir Scott Dixon (1m 01.2109s) will start 16th on the starting grid, while countryman Marcus Armstrong starts seventh, recording 1m 00.7820s in qualifying.
McLaughlin has won pole position on two previous occasions at St Petersburg, winning in 2022 and finishing fourth last year.
The 290km race begins at 6am Monday NZT.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
