– The topic of lapping was once again a big issue last weekend at the IndyCar Series double-header on the Milwaukee Mile. Already three weeks earlier in Portland, the topic had caused a stir. There, Will Power and Felix Rosenqvist were anything but happy with how well or poorly they managed to get through the lapped traffic during the race.
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In Milwaukee, it was primarily Penske driver Scott McLaughlin who complained about the behavior of the drivers about to be lapped. In the Sunday race, which due to numerous weather-related schedule changes on the Milwaukee timetable ultimately ended before the Saturday race, McLaughlin finished P2 with less than 0.8 seconds behind Pato O’Ward (McLaren-Chevrolet).
In the Saturday race, which after interruption finally ended on Sunday, a few hours after the Sunday race, McLaughlin lost third position and thus the great chance to finish both races on the podium four laps from the end in the lapped traffic.
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The one who stood in McLaughlin’s way during the lapping four laps from the end in the race that finished later in time was none other than six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon (Ganassi-Honda). Dixon ultimately finished P18, one lap down.
In the mentioned scene four laps from the end exiting Turn 4, McLaughlin wanted to pass Dixon on the outside. That did not succeed. The Penske driver lost so much momentum that Rinus VeeKay (Juncos-Chevrolet) overtook him on the inside and immediately lapped Dixon as well. Thus, it was VeeKay who finished third. McLaughlin had to settle for P4.
IndyCar 2026: Milwaukee I
“I came out of the corner, was right behind him and had momentum. But then he moved up, kind of deployed the brake parachute and gave Rinus a podium,” McLaughlin described his perspective.
Before he did that, namely in the pit lane talking to reporters, including from Speedcafe, McLaughlin had sought a personal conversation with Dixon. “Honestly, he is my hero. That’s why it’s hard for me to be mad at him,” said the Penske driver, who, like Dixon, is from New Zealand.
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According to McLaughlin, Dixon explained to him in the conversation that the Ganassi-Honda with number 9 was damaged in the final phase of the race. McLaughlin then clarified that it was less personal anger at Dixon and more frustration about the behavior of the lapped drivers in general that upset him so much.
“Our car was great. They were two good races, with P2 and P4 I can’t be unhappy. But I’m just frustrated. I want a [winner’s] trophy. I was held up several times today by lapped drivers. It is what it is,” said McLaughlin, who has now been waiting exactly two years for a win.
Already in the press conference after the Sunday race that had ended a few hours earlier, McLaughlin had vented his frustration about the behavior of the lapped drivers. In this race, he gave hand signals from the cockpit after the lapping was finally successful. It concerned Graham Rahal, Mick Schumacher, and Alexander Rossi in succession, who were “greeted” by McLaughlin on the track.
IndyCar 2026: Milwaukee II
“I understand if you are a lap down and try to stay ahead of the leader on the lead lap. But once you are four seconds behind the leader and have no chance to get back [on your own power] to the lead lap, you really are a lap down. Then I don’t know why you fight so hard,” McLaughlin argued in the press conference without naming names.
After Will Power, on the occasion of his frustration expressed a few weeks ago in Portland about the lapped drivers, had suggested either enforcing a rule change for the future (keyword: blue flags not only as a recommendation but as a command to let pass), or at least achieving a gentleman’s agreement among the drivers, McLaughlin sees it similarly.
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“I just think it would be in the spirit of a gentleman’s agreement to simply get out of the way if you have no chance anymore. Especially if you are three laps down, that was really crazy,” said McLaughlin in the press conference, referring to the behavior of Graham Rahal.
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