Scott McLaughlin highlights "tough" test of IndyCar's night racing as rescheduled WWT Raceway race gets closer
Scott McLaughlin has shared different challenges that night racing in IndyCar brings compared to racing under the sun. The series will head to Madison, Illinois, this upcoming weekend for its first and only night race of the season, the Bommarito Automotive Group 500, from June 14 to 15.
The race was initially scheduled for 3 pm ET. However, to avoid clashes with NASCAR, it was one of five races to witness a change in timings. It was moved from the afternoon slot to IndyCar's first primetime Sunday night race on FOX, with an 8 pm ET start time.
The last IndyCar night race at the World Wide Technology Raceway was in 2019, two years before Scott McLaughlin joined the series. Ahead of the 2025 edition of the event at the 1.25-mile oval, the Team Penske driver was asked about the nuances of night versus daytime races.
"I guess you could say, vision," McLaughlin replied in the interview with SpeedFreaks on YouTube. "No matter how many lights you have out there, it's hard to spot marbles, like black marbles, and the grip of the tire. When it's night, it's just how it is with the color of it and the contrast.
"So learning when that second drift is coming in and trying to be one of the first people up there, because ultimately, it's the first guy that benefits the most. So yeah, that's the tough thing about night racing part, but everyone will get an idea of it pretty quick."
The schedule for the two-day event at the WWT Raceway is unique. Instead of Friday, the race weekend starts on Saturday, with only one pre-qualifying practice session, followed by qualifying, and a post-qualifying 'High Line' practice session.
The 'High Line' session will witness drivers going flat-out to add additional tire rubber on the high line/top groove to improve passing opportunities in the race.
Scott McLaughlin makes surprising revelation about his love for IndyCar's ovals
Scott McLaughlin had no oval experience before his first full IndyCar season in 2021. However, four years and two oval wins later, both of which came in 2024, the New Zealand driver prefers racing on ovals more than road and street courses.
Ahead of the Bommarito Automotive Group 500, which will be IndyCar's first oval race of 2025 outside the Indy 500, SpeedFreaks asked McLaughlin if he enjoyed racing on ovals.
"Oh, super fun," he replied. "I probably prefer ovals now over running roads and street courses because it's just so different. I enjoy the challenge of it and the intricacies to be fast and race these cars on this track at that speed."
So far in the 2025 IndyCar season, Scott McLaughlin's performance hasn't lived up to the preseason hype. He was one of the title favorites against reigning champion Alex Palou, but the Chip Ganassi Racing driver has taken his dominance to a whole different level, with five wins in seven races.
Contrarily, McLaughlin's best finish has been a P3 podium at Barber so far this season. He was also one of the favorites to win the 109th Indy 500 until crashing out on the pace lap while warming his tires. He finds himself eighth in the standings after seven races.