Scott McLaughlin is set to take the wheel of a Team Penske IndyCar as part of a rookie evaluation test at Sebring next month.
The New Zealander this year wrapped up his second consecutive Supercars Championship following a dominant season that saw him claim 18 wins, the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 among them.
Across the Atlantic, Team Penske had a similarly successful season in the IndyCar Series, winning the Indianapolis 500 with Simon Pagenaud and the series title with Josef Newgarden.
Veteran Australian racer Will Power also twice claimed victory during the season, leaving Team Penske drivers first, second, and fifth in the standings.
The outing will be a marked departure for McLaughlin, who has spent his senior racing career in touring cars.
The 26-year-old has however previously sampled open wheeler machinery, racing in the Victorian Formula Ford Championship in 2010.
News of the January 13 test comes of the morning of McLaughlin’s wedding.
“I am always open to new challenges and I’m thankful to Team Penske for providing this opportunity to test an Indy car,” said McLaughlin.
“We had an amazing year in 2019 and I’m looking forward to defending our Supercars championship next season.
“I’m also excited to grow as a driver and being with Team Penske creates cool opportunities to try something new. Although I have spent a few hours in a simulator earlier this year, it’s going to be a blast to see what one really feels like at a place like Sebring.”
Team boss Roger Penske, who recently purchased both the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar Series, added: “Scott has been incredibly successful for DJR Team Penske over the last three seasons and he has become a true champion of our sport.
“He certainly embraces new challenges and we think this is a great opportunity to utilize the IndyCar Series rookie testing program so Scott can experience what it is like to get behind the wheel of one of our Indy cars.”
McLaughlin will get the chance to sample the American open wheeler at Sebring International Raceway on January 13.
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