Scott McLaughlin mates Romain Grosjean

On the Barber Motorsports Park Romain Grosjean thought he could take his first victory in IndyCar, but it was without counting on Scott McLaughlin who was able to take advantage of an error by Romain Grosjean.

In the streets of St. Petersburg at the start of the season, the rivalry between Scott McLaughlin and Romain Grosjean ended in a collision, nothing came of it at Barber Motorsports Park for this Chidren’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix, despite several touches in a fierce battle for first place.

Without a stop at the side of the track in turn 9 of the rookie Sting Ray Robb on lap 39, there would have been no neutralization in this fourth trick of the season. This exit from the safety car allowed all the drivers who were on three stops to go through the pit lane and above all to close the gaps.

After his third and final stop, to put on hard tires for a second time, Romain Grosjean got the better of Scott McLaughlin and took control of the race, but the Frenchman had to give up six laps later, after two errors, which eventually opened up the door to the Kiwi.

Without push to pass for the last laps, the Andretti Autosport driver couldn’t prevent his Team Penske rival from signing his fourth career victory. Above all, he must look back with the return of Will Power.

This is a very happy strategy for the pilot. There was a bit of strategy to overtake him, I’m very happy. We discussed man to man with Romain, there is no problem with him. I am very happy to have won here.

Scott McLaughlin

Scott McLaughlin is one of the drivers who went through the pit lane three times during this race, along with Will Power, while Romain Grosjean took the option of only making two pit stops.

Under the checkered flag Scott McLaughlin leads Romain Grosjean, Will Power, Pato O’Ward, Álex Palou, Christian Lundgaard, Scott Dixon, Alexander Rossi, Felix Rosenqvist and Marcus Ericsson for the top 10.

The entire INDYCAR field now has their eyes on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the month of May opens. There will be a race on the road circuit, before the 500 Miles, on the oval at the end of May. The 500 Miles title holder, Sweden’s Marcus Ericsson, will arrive in Indiana as the championship leader. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver has a margin of three points over his runner-up, the Mexican Pato O’Ward.