McLaughlin wins Mid-Ohio Race

New Zealander Scott McLaughlin won the mid-Ohio race on Sunday, the ninth of 17th round in the US IndyCar Championship, ahead of Spain’s Alex Ballou and Australia’s Will Power. In the championship, Swede Marcus Ericsson, the sixth Sunday and winner of the last 500 miles from Indianapolis, retains the lead with 321 points, 20 ahead of Power and 34 ahead of American Joseph Newgarden, on Sunday the seventh.

Bauer, who qualified 21st and slipped to last on the first lap after going off the road, came back in style to finish the third stage of the podium. This is the second victory of the season for McLaughlin, 29, who has already won the first round of the year in St. Petersburg (Florida). He races for the Roger Penske team and made his IndyCar debut in 2020.

“It’s incredible. I am very happy to win in front of my parents and also on the National Day holiday (American, editor’s note),” said McLaughlin, stressing that he had to fight hard to resist Alex Ballou who finished a few tenths behind him. He is now seventh in the provisional championship standings after winning on Sunday.

Mexican Pato Award, who started first and fourth in the provisional classification of the championship prior to this event, had to succumb to a mechanical breakdown when leaving to pit in 54 of the 80 laps of the race. He suddenly lost his fourth place in the championship to Balu.