Scott McLaughlin faced another setback during the Iowa Speedway event when a collision forced him out of the race early. The Team Penske driver’s crash, involving Devlin DeFrancesco, marked a frustrating end to his efforts at the Newton doubleheader and highlighted ongoing difficulties on oval tracks this season.
The incident occurred on the first lap after the green flag, when DeFrancesco, driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, lost a wheel and spun into McLaughlin. Trying to avoid the crash, the Kiwi driver was nonetheless caught in the collision, bringing his race to a premature halt. This was McLaughlin’s second crash over the weekend and ended his race chances at Iowa Speedway.
Despite the disappointing exit, McLaughlin took a lighter tone in response to the mishap. On his X account, he joked about a milestone reached earlier in the weekend, writing:
“10,000.5 laps in my IndyCar Career”
This post referred to a statistic revealed after the first race of the Iowa doubleheader, which recorded McLaughlin’s total laps reached in his IndyCar career as exactly 10,000. The ironic humor served as a small relief amid a challenging race weekend.
The Iowa Speedway crash reflected broader challenges McLaughlin has faced on ovals this year. The former Supercars champion suffered crashes at the Indy 500, endured a mechanical failure at the Bommarito 500, and has now been involved in two crashes during this Iowa weekend. These setbacks have significantly impacted his performance in the 2025 IndyCar Series season.
Looking ahead, McLaughlin hopes to regain momentum as the series moves on to the streets of Ontario for the Indy Toronto race, where he aims for a stronger and less eventful outing.
McLaughlin’s Reaction to the Iowa Speedway Incident
After the crash, McLaughlin shared his reaction via social media, providing insight into the moment the collision happened. Despite qualifying last due to an earlier qualifying crash, he was optimistic about his chances before the incident occurred early in the race. Devlin DeFrancesco’s wheel loss and subsequent slide up the track caught McLaughlin off guard as he committed to a higher line on the oval.
In a video posted on X by motorsports journalist Bob Pockrass, McLaughlin explained the situation:
“I was committed to the high and was just hoping he wouldn’t slide up, and then he slid up right at the end there and just tapped me. Yeah, it’s a little bummer because I had a pretty decent start and I was going okay. Story of our year.”
The sentiment reflects the frustration McLaughlin has experienced throughout the season, as misfortune and incidents beyond his control have continually hampered his progress.
Team Penske’s Challenging Day at Iowa Speedway
McLaughlin was not alone in facing issues during the Iowa event, as his teammate Will Power also had his race ended abruptly due to a mechanical failure. The difficulties encountered by the Penske duo underscored a tough day for the team at the Corn Country circuit, increasing pressure to bounce back at the next race.
Both drivers will look to change their fortunes when the IndyCar Series heads to Ontario for Round 13 of the 2025 season. The street course in Toronto offers a different challenge and an opportunity for better results after a string of disappointing performances on oval tracks.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Scott McLaughlin a dad?
A. He shared with Mike Hosking that becoming a father has been an exciting experience, and he has loved it. “We had a fantastic Christmas, and I’m really eager to return to racing,” he said. Their daughter is visiting the racetrack for the first time this weekend, which McLaughlin thinks will be amazing.
Q. Is Scott McLaughlin a father?
A. Scott McLaughlin, a new father and fan of golf, talks with James Hinchcliffe about his impressive 2024 season as an official INDYCAR driver.