Scott McLaughlin experienced one of the most heartbreaking moments of his racing career Sunday at the Indianapolis 500—an event that ended for him before it even truly began.
As engines roared to life and drivers took to the frontstretch in preparation for the green flag, a light rain caused an early delay, forcing drivers to keep their tires warm under cautious laps. But as the field eased into Turn 1, McLaughlin’s car suddenly lost grip, sending him spinning into the wall. The contact was enough to sideline the No. 3 car and crush his hopes for IndyCar glory on racing’s biggest stage.
“We have another race next week, but this race is everything to us,” McLaughlin told FOX Sports. “I didn’t even see the green flag. My heart is broken. Not good.”
The New Zealand native, visibly shaken, expressed his devastation on social media, writing, “I’d never wish this feeling on my worst enemy.”
It was a painful exit for McLaughlin, who entered Sunday’s race with high hopes after securing a solid 10th-place starting position. Just last year, he crossed the yard of bricks in sixth and was eager to capitalize on that momentum—even after a frightening practice crash earlier in the week. But the day unraveled before the competition ever took shape.
“I really have no idea what happened,” McLaughlin told FOX Sports’ Jamie Little after being evaluated at the infield care center. “Just really upset for my team. They built me a fantastic car again. I’m really sorry to my sponsors, to my fans, my family. I don’t know what happened. I can’t believe we’re out of the race. I had so much hope today. Yeah, probably the worst moment of my life.”
Despite the disappointment, McLaughlin remains seventh in the IndyCar standings as the series pushes forward. But for a driver who dreamed of kissing the bricks at Indianapolis, the sting of Sunday’s early exit will likely linger for some time.
