McLaughlin has the talent, drive and car to win from the middle of the pack. Team Penske are the winningist team at the Brickyard and know the race is won only if you are in a great position with 50 miles to go. Their strategy for this race is, to keep it out of the wall and other drivers wrecks. Keep your nose clean for 450 miles then, stand on it and win. If McLaughlin can hook up behind Pole Sitter and fellow Kiwi Scott Dixon ( Dixon could lead flag to flag. He is that good) , tail him to One to Go and then draft past with 1/2 a lap to go, he can win.
McLaughlin, left yellow, escaped a possible race ending practice crash when he encountered three cars ahead doing only 100 mph blocking the track for a photo opp. Colton Herta, right yellow was coming behind at 230 mph , encountered the slowing cars and thread the needle, just brushing the wall with his front right with no damage to anyone. Phew, Close call !
