Will Power has revealed what the best advice he has given to Scott McLaughlin is as the New Zealander embarks on a new chapter as an IndyCar driver.
Power has 235 starts to his name which have yielded 39 wins, including the 2018 Indianapolis 500 and the three wins he took on the way to collecting the title in 2014.
His new team-mate in what is now a four-car Team Penske stable this year might have won three Supercars Championships and the 2019 Bathurst 1000, but has thus far made just the one start in IndyCar.
According to Power, McLaughlin needs to take a steady approach to learning the category.
“[What] I told him when he was initially getting into it was just to creep up on it all,” said the Queenslander when asked what his best advice to the rookie has been.
“Because there is nothing worse than going into the wall, having a crash, and losing your confidence. That certainly puts you back a few steps.
“He's driven in a very high-profile series at a very professional level for a number of years so he knows all that.
“I think he knows the process he needs to take. There's not really much you can give him.
“He's got to really take from real-life experiences from here out, honestly.”
Team Penske President Tim Cindric last year identified running in the top 10 as “a big accomplishment” for McLaughlin in his rookie campaign.
Speaking ahead of his first test of 2021, the 27-year-old expressed a similar sentiment.
“It's one of those of those deals to say exactly what my expectations until we get on track and see where we are at,” said McLaughlin.
“I think we are going to have a real strong race car and three strong team-mates to push me. I think that will accelerate my process.
“If I get to the end of the year and I'm in the top 10 of the championship or the top eight in the championship, that would almost be a win for me.
“I am realistic about my expectations, but I am impatient. I'm competitive and I want to make sure we get to the front as quick as we can.
“I've got a massive amount of expectations from the sponsors that partner with us including PPG and some to be announced.
“It's an exciting period but there is a pressure there and I am excited to take that on board and move forward with it.”
The first race of the 2021 IndyCar season, at Barber Motorsports Park, will be held on April 18 (local time).