Reigning Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin could be a contender for the IndyCar title as soon as 2023, according to leading commentator Neil Crompton.
McLaughlin, who won three straight Supercars championships from 2018-2020, has just wrapped up his first full season of IndyCars, where he finished 14th overall, claiming Rookie of the Year honours.
The high point of McLaughlin’s season came in Texas, with a second place finish in his very first oval race.
Speaking to Wide World of Sports ahead of the release of his autobiography, Best Seat in the House, Crompton said McLaughlin’s 2021 season sets him up perfectly for the future.
“I expected he’d struggle initially, because he hasn’t had time in cars that are as aerodynamically sensitive as the IndyCar is,” he explained.
“Actually driving the race car, I never had any doubts he would be successful. It’s the small detail in the background that takes time. Things like track traits, weather, setup, what you want to adjust, and by how much, those things are quite difficult to learn.
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“You can see the underlying pace he has, he was really quick a few times during the year. It will come to him for sure. He’ll very likely generate wins in 2022, and I think he’ll be a contender for the championship in 2023 or 2024.
“He’s one of those freaks that’s right out there at the very edge of performance.”
Crompton knows better than most about making the adjustment from Supercars to an IndyCar. He twice finished on the podium at the Bathurst 1000 over a 15-year career in the sport, which included a test in an IndyCar in 1996.
“We’re very fortunate here in Australia, the guys in Supercars who are at the peak of their powers can hold their head up high anywhere in the world,” he said.
“Shane van Gisbergen is world class, as is Jamie Whincup, and others, including Chaz Mostert and Cam Waters.
“Any of the top-10 here in Supercars would do well overseas.”
Whether that overseas opportunity presents itself is another question, with Crompton noting the big challenge for Australian drivers is finding an open door, which unfortunately is often tied to money.
That situation is highlighted by the current struggles of F2 championship leader Oscar Piastri, with the 20-year-old from Melbourne stranded in his bid to make the jump to F1 not because he lacks the talent, but because other drivers have a multi-million dollar war chest.
“It’s the big frustration with our sport, the beauty of tennis or cricket or golf is that you don’t need a multi-million dollar piece of machinery to get the job done,” Crompton said.
“If I went up and down the Supercars pitlane tomorrow and asked the drivers if they’d like to drive an IndyCar, they’d be falling over themselves to sign up for the chance.
“But not only do you need the car, but you need the operational aspects around you as well. That’s the beauty of Scott’s situation, he’s gone to a five-star, A-grade operation, and given he’s a five-star, A-grade driver, it’s just a matter of time before that clicks.”
The “operation” Crompton refers to is none other than Team Penske, a juggernaut that has won the championship 14 times, and the iconic Indy 500 on 18 occasions, headed up by the legendary Roger Penske, who wrote the forward for Best Seat in the House.
“He’s up there with the absolute who’s who of the industry, alongside Henry Ford and Enzo Ferrari,” Crompton said.
“He’s such a tremendous operator and a great mentor.”
Best Seat in the House is on sale now from your favourite bookshop or online.
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