Kiwi Scott McLaughlin wins his first Indycar race in his second season in the series, Scott managed to withstand charge from reigning champion Alex Palou.
Scott led off the line at the start of the GP after securing his first pole. With Will Power and Colton Herta rounding out the top three. The field were settling to their own strategies, trying to stretch out the use of the alternate red wall tires, which were falling off the cliff quickly.
As with most races in Indycar, a full course caution can put pay to a strategy call, and the GP of St Petersburg was no different.
Rookie David Malukas driving in the Dale Coyne Racing car brought out the first caution of the race on lap 25, when he lost the car heading through the fast chicane at turn two/three. The rookie driver slid on the marbles and hit the wall on the left, the impact broke suspension on both front and rear of the car ending the rookie driver’s race.
The timing of the caution sent several teams to the pits and the pit wall frantically looking over their strategy plans.
Alexander Rossi, Scott Dixon and Pato O’Ward were the top three through the caution, with Rossi rolling the dice on a quick second caution to help him remain at the top of the standings, alas the gamble didn’t not pay off for the Andretti Autosport driver, who ended up taking to pit road on lap 38.
Green flag running resumed on lap 33, with clean racing from the start. Eventual winner McLaughan came out in 12th but was the net leader as all cars in front would be heading to the pits for tires at some point in the race.
When everything shook out, McLaughlin would be in first, with Alex Palou chasing down the Scott, an unusual race in St Petersburg, the track is known for have several caution periods, however the race had one caution on lap 25. The rest of the race was completed under green flag conditions.
The unusual length of green flag racing, undoubtedly aided Scott and his strategy, this was only one part of the reason for McLaughlin to take the win, if future races are as assured as this, then people can be forgiven for adding Scott McLaughlin to the title conversation.
Rookie Watch
Tatiana Calderon – A.J Foyt Racing
Tatiana would qualify in 25th and had an OK race, showing some good moves in the early running, racing against her teammate, however a minor mistake on lap 59 sent the Columbian driver down the order.
FINISHING POSITION – 24th
Devlin DeFrancesco – Andretti Autosport
The Canadian born driver had an impressive race in the Andretti Racing car, qualifying in 18th Devlin showed in the race that he should be in the series, it was a fast and solid run in his first race in Indycar.
FINISHING POSITION – 22nd
Callum Illot – Juncos Hollinger Racing
Englishman, Illot debuted in Indycar and qualified in 19th, the Juncos Hollinger Racing driver was another rooking that put in a solid, if unspectacular race, it was a race that helps to build a foundation for Callum.
FINISHING POSITION – 19TH
Kyle Kirkwood – A.J Foyt Racing
Kyle would be the highest qualifying rookie; he would stick the A.J Foyt car in 12th. The race would not lead to the same result, but again it was a solid and relatively mistake free run.
FINISHING POSITION – 18TH
Christian Lundgaard – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Lundgaard qualified in 15th, Christian would have a solid race, at one point running in seventh place. A good solid start in his Indycar career.
FINISHING POSITION – 11TH
David Malukas – Dale Coyne Racing with HMD Motorsport
Malukas qualified in 24th for the race and was doing a steady job until lap 25 when he lost the rear of the car going through the fast chicane, he would slide into the wall breaking suspension on both front and rear wheels.
FINISHING POSITION – DNF
