Indycar is Go For 2021

Scott McLaughlin will get an early advantage if his first season of IndyCar racing goes ahead as hoped.

The schedule for the 2021 season opens on the streets of St. Petersburg in Florida, the same track where he is about to start his first IndyCar race.

Returning to St. Pete will give him the familiarity and experience to springboard into his new career as a single-seater racer with Team Penske.

McLaughlin will also get three races on street or road course circuits before hitting his first oval race, and even then he has already tested at the Texas Motor Speedway which will host the first two oval events next year.

The 17-race calendar for 2021 has just been revealed by IndyCar and, although the three-time champion’s focus is fully on the Bathurst 1000, he is ready to do some homework for the ’states.

“I know the calendar is out today. I haven’t had time to look at it yet, but I’ll have a good look later,” McLaughlin told Race News.

“I do know that Nashville is on it, which is good.”

But there is still no news from Team Penske beyond Bathurst and the extra entry for St. Petersburg later this month.

“Hopefully I’m there,” is all McLaughlin will say.

“Right now I’m flat-out for Bathurst. I’m doing all the commercial work to prepare and make sure I have a clear week.

“I’m also jumping into the simulator at the workshop. I’ve been doing as many laps as I can, and Tim Slade is in there as well.”

The 2021 IndyCar series has a familiar mix of tracks and dates, although Texas is the only oval before the 105th running of the Indy 500.

NBC has also expanded its coverage of the series, which should be good news for Australian fans who are planning to follow McLaughlin’s near-certain switch to IndyCar.

2021 IndyCar Series Schedule