Team Penske tested at Portland last week and it was certainly well worth their time. After leading every practice session and sweeping the top three spots in qualifying, McLaughlin won today’s race from pole position as teammate Will Power finished 2nd to widen his lead in the championship standings heading into the final race next weekend.
This was the third win of the season for McLaughlin, who is in his second full-time season in the series. His margin of victory over Power was 1.1792 seconds. “The car felt really good on that first stint, but as the race went on, it got a little bit worse. I just had to work on concentrating where I wanted the strengths of the car and work with those, and the weaknesses, just try to make the best of them.”
McLaughlin’s win also gives him a legitimate shot at the title next weekend. The driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet is 41 points out of the lead in 4th place. He will need some serious help to make it happen, but McLaughlin is just happy to have the opportunity.
“The team, the Thirsty Three’s, got the job done in the pits. We did exactly what we needed to do this weekend, and that was win and get max points and keep ourselves in the fight. We’re a long shot but I don’t care. We have a shot, and I’m looking forward to it.”
“When Roger and Tim gave me the opportunity to come over here, I knew it was going to be hard but I thought one day we could win. The ultimate goal is obviously to be to win a championship and the 500 and I’m not going to stop until I get one of those or both. It’s a long way to climb but you’ve gotta dream big to get it done.”
Power takes a 20-point lead into the season finale at Laguna Seca, putting him in prime position to win his second championship. The 2014 champion will win the title with a podium finish, regardless of what anyone else does.
“I want to win this championship for the guys that have been with me for more than a decade,” said Power. “It’s a lot less selfish for me this time around because they deserve it. I feel their pain over the years of losing so many, so I would love to win it for them.”
Scott Dixon had another sensational drive today, finishing on the podium after starting in the 16th position. It was a remarkable feat, considering there was only one caution flag during the race. His 3rd place finish leaves him with a shot at a record-tying 7th championship next Sunday.
“That was definitely a fun race,” Dixon said. “We’ve got to work on…
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