Indy500 driver Scott McLaughlin rues 'worst moment of my life' as shocking mistake eliminates him before race
Indy500 hopeful Scott McLaughlin was left devastated after crashing out of the race before it even started in a moment he quickly branded 'the worst of my life.'
The New Zealander, who was slated to start 10th in Indianapolis, suffered the disaster during the warm-up laps after slamming into a wall while swerving to warm his tires before Sunday's green flag.
After getting out of his car, McLaughlin buried his head in his hands while crouched on the infield grass.
He was set to enter as Team Penske's highest-starting driver after two-time defending race winner Josef Newgarden and Will Power were penalized and dropped to the back of the field for failing inspection.
'I really have no idea what happened,' the 31-year-old told FOX.
'Just really upset for my team, they built me a fantastic car again. I'm really sorry to my sponsors, my fans, my family.
'By far the worst moment of my life." @smclaughlin93 shares his thoughts after crashing on the pace laps of the #Indy500. pic.twitter.com/gbbRZrS6HP
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 25, 2025
'I don't know what happened. I can't believe we're out of the race. I just had so much hope today.
'Yeah, it's by far the worst moment of my life. I know it's probably dramatic, but I put so much into this race, everyone does. And I didn't even get to see the green flag.'
McLaughlin, who was starting on the inside of the fourth row, was swerving back and forth across the track to warm up his tires when his car suddenly kicked left at the end of the front stretch. It slammed into the inner barrier, destroying his suspension and ending the race he wants to win more than any other before it had even started.
His nightmare was reminiscent of the 1992 Indianapolis 500, when pole-sitter Roberto Guerrero spun out and crashed while also trying to warm up his tires during the parade laps.
It also happened after Roger Penske delivered a forceful command for drivers to start their engines at the Indy500 after the most trying weeks for his own race team, only for one of his own drivers to crash out.
Penske, who also owns IndyCar, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500, had been scarce in public since qualifying weekend, when the cars of two-time defending winner Josef Newgarden and former winner Will Power were found to have an illegally modified part. Both were penalized and sent to the rear of the 33-car starting grid.
Heartbreaking. pic.twitter.com/Wyu22FlFTd
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 25, 2025
The 88-year-old went even further after the second scandal to engulf his team in just over a year, firing team president Tim Cindric and Team Penske officials Ron Ruzewski and Kyle Moyer, who had served as the strategist on McLaughlin's car.
McLaughlin did not have the illegally modified part on the car that he wrecked in the final round of qualifying.
The start of the 109th running of the Indy 500 was delayed when a cloud of light rain that passed over the speedway, where a crowd of about 350,000 people had arrived early and packed the sold-out grandstands.
Trucks with huge dryers were sent onto the track, and it was declared ready by race control after a delay of about 35 minutes.
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