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ROBERT CIANFLONE / GETTY IMAGES
Scott McLaughlin was furious after a late crash ruined his bid for yet another virtual IndyCar victory.
New Zealand racing star Scott McLaughlin was furious after a late crash denied him a possible victory in the last virtual IndyCars race.
With his true IndyCar racing debut on hold, the master V8 Supercars is competing in the iRacing series, and has so far been impressive on record, fourth, first and second place.
He then looked excellent for a victory tilt at the Firestone 175 event on Sunday (New Zealand time), however those hopes were fumed in a dramatic finale at the simulated Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Japan, which saw McLaughlin spin Kiwi teammate Scott Dixon took second place, and McLaughlin’s teammate at Penske, Simon Pagenaud, rushed to a second consecutive victory.
CLIVE ROSE / GETTY IMAGES
Simon Pagenaud claimed a second successive IndyCar victory.
With 10 laps to go, Penske drivers Will Power and McLaughlin were racing each other for the lead, and probably for victory, when they bumped into Oliver Askew’s car that caused Power to touch McLaughlin’s car.
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Sent spinning against the wall and out of the question, McLaughlin was furious and actively trying to calm down on his simulator in Brisbane, where he woke up at 2 am to prepare for the series.
“It is a video game, it is a video game,” McLaughlin repeated. “I know it’s a game, but I’m still [mad]. ”
Bring my computer to the store for a rebuild after this one! 😂 passing @ 12WillPower for the lead and unfortunately we were both hit by an overturned car! Anyway, it’s really fun and nice to have some speed on an oval. Congratulations @simonpagenaud and @PenskeESports ! https://t.co/ZOYrIhOiju
– Scott McLaughlin (@ smclaughlin93) April 18, 2020
Power fired an angry message at Askew, then shared the content during a post-race Zoom video conference of the podium finalists.
“I had three of the signs of applause … ‘I eliminated the two leaders with a few laps. Great disrespect for the drivers who worked hard to be there competing for victory in the end, where you’ll be at some point,’ “read Power. “That’s what I sent to Askew.”
Pagenaud then ran Power wheel-to-wheel and the cars seemed to touch before Pagenaud took the lead. He still had to contain Dixon’s last lap attempt to pass him for victory.
CHRIS GRAYTHEN / GETTY IMAGES
Kiwi Scott Dixon finished second in the Firestone 175.
“It was very hectic with Will at one point and then with Dixon at the end, ” Pagenuad said.” I work hard all week to be competitive and I think I’m getting there. “
Pagenaud also won last week at virtual Michigan International Speedway, and along with McLaughlin’s victory, the Penske drivers have won three of the four IndyCar iRaces.
The Frenchman said he spends about five hours a day practicing on his simulator.
“What’s fun for me, actually, is that you’re racing exactly the same guys as always, exactly the same moves that you would in real life. You keep spinning the wheels on your head.”
“At the moment we are not running, so we run the weekend. That makes me very happy. The adrenaline was definitely at the highest level at the end of the race.”
PHIL WALTER / GETTY IMAGES
Scott Dixon joined the iRacing event, saying it has been great for his team’s sponsors.
Pagenaud slowed down after taking the checkered flag and Dixon ran to the back of his car, a contact that sent him spinning toward Helio Castroneves’ lapped car. Both Dixon and Castroneves practically went up in the air after the end.
“I was running for a spectacular finale there. I didn’t realize it was the last lap. I thought we were still running, man,” said Dixon, the five-time IndyCar champion who entered the iRacing Series in his second event. when it became clear how advantageous it is for sponsors during closing.
“It’s great for our sponsors. PNC Bank has been genuinely interested in how this program would play out. Obviously congratulations to the NTT IndyCar Series and iRacing – iRacing has so much on their plate right now with so many different series. It has honestly been very good from his point of view. ”
– Things, AP
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