Reigning Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin says competing in US-based series has always been an ambition, as he prepares to make his debut in IndyCar.
McLaughlin has competed for Team Penske in Australia’s Supercars championship since 2017 and claimed back-to-back titles across 2018 and 2019.
He made his IndyCar test debut with Penske at Sebring in January and has been handed a race drive for May’s round at the Indianapolis road course.
Speaking at IndyCar’s open media event ahead of pre-season testing, McLaughlin said: “I’ve always said I’d like to have a crack at something else.
“My goal was to always win the championship and Bathurst in Australia. I did those, ticked those boxes.
“I’d love to get to America one day, potentially. If I’ve done my goals in Australia. My wife is from America, she’s from New York.
“I’ve got a great career down under whatever happens with this, but eventually, I’ve always said, whether it’s now or in 30 years down the track I’d love to finish up here.”
McLaughlin, who will defend his Supercars title this year, added: “The conversation with me and Roger (Penske) was pretty short.
“It was like ‘Would you be interested in IndyCar?’, and I was like ‘Yeah, I would literally drive a wheelbarrow if it had a Team Penske sticker on it, it wouldn’t bother me, I would race that thing hard and I would race anything that comes with the opportunity’
“I’ve always had a passion for American motorsport and would love the opportunity.”
