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Team Penske has withdrawn from the Australian Supercars series, and signed driver Scott McLaughlin to race full-time in IndyCar next season.
McLaughlin is making his IndyCar race debut this weekend following a long wait caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
He tested with and impressed the team during pre-season and would have won the championship’s six-round iRacing series alongside most of IndyCar’s regulars held in March-April – had it been counting points – winning two races without ever having raced in the series in reality.
He drives a fourth car this weekend at street circuit St Petersburg, after gaining special permission to leave Australia following the end of the tin-top season at Bathurst last weekend.
“I’m so excited for the opportunity to take the next step in my career and compete against some of the best drivers in the world in the IndyCar Series,” said McLaughlin.
“The last four years racing for DJR Team Penske has been amazing. I want to thank every single person on the team, and everyone that has helped me reach this point in my career.
“I wouldn’t be in a position to continue to chase my dream without the hard work of so many people along the way.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge of joining one of the most iconic motorsports programs of all-time – Team Penske’s IndyCar team. I wish the 2021 season would begin tomorrow.”
Owing to his Supercars dominance, McLaughlin is already third in the number of wins for the Penske organisation according to the team’s press release.
He lies behind NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski and Mark Donohue who raced across a number of series before his death in 1975.
McLaughlin’s Stateside move means Penske will return to four cars in IndyCar for the first time since 2017.
He will race against series champions Simon Pagenaud, Will Power, and Joseph Newgarden.
Roger Penske’s company purchased the IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at the turn of the year.
Penske confirmed the move to pull-back from Australia was related to the effects of the virus.
“We have enjoyed an incredible six seasons competing in the Supercars series with DJR Team Penske,” said Penske.
“Partnering with Dick Johnson and Ryan Story to form DJR Team Penske was an incredible experience that produced success on the track and in the boardroom.”
He added: “Unfortunately, with the challenges we have faced in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have had to readjust our business initiatives for 2021 and beyond.”
Penske joined DJR in Supercars for the 2015 season and signed McLaughlin for 2017.
He finished runner-up to Jamie Whincup in the standings in his first season.
The 27-year-old has since won three consecutive drivers’ titles with the team and scored a total 56 wins and 76 pole positions in a full-time Supercars career stretching back to 2013.
DJR is expected to continue in Supercars next season despite Penske’s departure.
Penske confirmed earlier in the year that it would not renew its factory deal with Acura in the IMSA SportsCar series, but has yet to confirm if it it will exit that prototype-based series.
