IndyCar: Scott McLaughlin to drive full-time for Team Penske in 2021

Team Penske will not compete in the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship in 2021, and Scott McLaughlin is set to move full-time to IndyCar because of it.

Ahead of his IndyCar debut in this Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, Scott McLaughlin has been confirmed as a full-time driver for Team Penske in the 2021 IndyCar season.

Team Penske announced Friday that they will not return to the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship for the 2021 season, ending a six-year run. They joined forces with Dick Johnson Racing to form DJR Team Penske in 2015 and won 56 races, took 62 pole positions and won six championships, including three in a row with McLaughlin from 2018 to 2020.

As a result, they are set to go back to running four cars on a full-time basis next year, something they haven’t done since 2017, with McLaughlin as one of their four drivers.

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Two-time champion Josef Newgarden, 2014 champion and 2018 Indy 500 winner Will Power and 2016 champion and 2019 Indy 500 winner Simon Pagenaud are all set to be back with the team next year behind the wheels of the #1/#2 Chevrolet, the #12 Chevrolet and the #22 Chevrolet, respectively.

McLaughlin is set to pilot the #3 Chevrolet in Sunday’s 100-lap race around the 14-turn, 1.8-mile (2.897-kilometer) temporary street circuit on the streets of St. Petersburg, and it is believed that he will pilot the #3 Chevrolet next year.

Sunday’s race marks Team Penske’s first race outside of Indianapolis Motor Speedway with four cars since the 2017 season finale at Sonoma Raceway, which was Helio Castroneves’s final race as a full-time driver for the team.

Here is what the 27-year-old New Zealander had to say about joining the team in a full-time capacity next year in a team release.

"“I’m so excited for the opportunity to take the next step in my career and compete against some of the best drivers in the world in the INDYCAR SERIES. The last four years racing for DJR Team Penske has been amazing. I want to thank every single person on the team, and everyone that has helped me reach this point in my career. I wouldn’t be in position to continue to chase my dream without the hard work of so many people along the way. I’m looking forward to the challenge of joining one of the most iconic motorsports programs of all time – Team Penske’s INDYCAR team. I wish the 2021 season would begin tomorrow.”"

Here is what team owner Roger Penske had to add.

"“We have enjoyed an incredible six seasons competing in the Supercars series with DJR Team Penske. Partnering with Dick Johnson and Ryan Story to form DJR Team Penske was an incredible experience that produced success on the track and in the boardroom. We have built so many lasting partnerships and friendships, and competing in Supercars has certainly helped strengthen our brand and our business in Australia and New Zealand. Unfortunately, with the challenges we have faced in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have had to readjust our business initiatives for 2021 and beyond. We want to thank Dick Johnson, Ryan Story, Fabian Coulthard and all of our team members for their hard work and dedication as we reestablished a championship organization together over the last six years. I know that Dick, Ryan and the team will continue to build on that success moving forward.”"

Here is what Johnson had to say about the departure of Team Penske and McLaughlin from the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship.

"“I want to thank Roger and the entire Penske organization for all they’ve done for our team over the last six years. While we hate to see them go, we understand the tough business decisions that have to be made. We’ve worked together over the last six years to build a team that has become the benchmark for performance both on and off the track. With the assistance of Roger and Team Penske we will be in position to build on that success. With the full support of Ford Australia, Ford Performance, Shell V-Power and all of our great partners, our team will continue to be a leader in Supercars racing.”"

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The 2021 IndyCar season is scheduled to get underway where the 2020 season is scheduled to end: on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. The season opener is scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 7.