Scott McLaughlin and Team Penske faced a setback during the Team Penske IndyCar Toronto race when a pit stop mishap ended McLaughlin’s weekend after only three laps, leaving the crew and fans stunned at the early exit. The incident, caused by a broken wheel nut leading to his rear tire detaching, came on the heels of challenging recent races for the team.
Early Exit Derails Penske Effort in Toronto
Racing in the 2025 IndyCar Toronto Grand Prix, Scott McLaughlin’s day unraveled almost immediately as he retired his #3 car following a broken wheel nut that sent him into the barriers on lap 3 of the 90-lap event. The technical failure on the rear left side forced him out, repeating recent frustrations for the driver and his crew, all in front of a disappointed crowd in Toronto.
This wasn’t an isolated stroke of bad luck. Just one week earlier at Iowa Speedway, McLaughlin suffered a DNF in Race 2, and his fortune in Toronto only compounded the pressure on both the racer and Team Penske’s pit crew. With a record of consecutive early race conclusions, the team is experiencing one of its more difficult stretches in years.
Reflecting on the incident, McLaughlin addressed the issue and his team with measured words:
“Yeah, bummed for everyone with the Gallagher Chevy, Gallagher two races in a row, out pretty early. So, sorry to them, but yeah, I felt like something sort of broke, or something on the left rear we just done a pit-stop, I love my guys, I’m not gonna drop them. Oh yeah, the nut came off (while watching the replay), anyway, it’s frustrating, we are all in this together.” —Scott McLaughlin, Driver
McLaughlin had started from fifteenth on the grid, only to see his hopes dashed before the competition could settle into rhythm. The domino effect of the pit stop mistake and contact with the barriers set a somber tone for the remainder of Team Penske’s afternoon.
Qualifying Struggles Contribute to Painful Weekend
The Toronto weekend’s troubles began in qualifying, where McLaughlin suffered a shock exit in the first round. Failing to advance, the Team Penske driver admitted responsibility for the critical error that hindered his performance, demonstrating the high standards he places on his craft and the difficulty of mastering Toronto’s tricky street circuit.
He explained what went wrong during his FOX interview:
“Ah, driver-made error there. Just like, missed Turn 5 apex just by a little bit, you see with the concrete here, if you are just off by a little bit, cause it’s not rubbered in, you like lose a chunk so, yeah, that’s on me! Unfortunately, yeah, sorry, everyone with the Gallagher Chevy, but again, we will make the most of it tomorrow.” —Scott McLaughlin, Driver
The combination of a subpar qualifying performance and an early race retirement resulted in another disappointing outing for both McLaughlin and his sponsor, Gallagher Chevy. The frustration was particularly palpable given Team Penske’s tradition of success and McLaughlin’s proven track record.
Penske’s Challenging Season Continues
The 2025 season has been tough for Scott McLaughlin and the broader Team Penske IndyCar operation. With twelve rounds completed before Toronto, McLaughlin occupies twelfth place in the drivers’ standings. Teammates Will Power and Josef Newgarden are positioned eighth and fourteenth, respectively, reflecting widespread struggles within the team.
This period stands in stark contrast to McLaughlin’s impressive 2024 campaign, where he finished third in the championship, only trailing series champion Alex Palou and runner-up Colton Herta. The current results have left a sense of urgency for the team to regroup and return to form.
What Lies Ahead for McLaughlin and Team Penske
Team Penske and Scott McLaughlin remain unified in spite of their recent setbacks, repeatedly emphasizing their collective effort and resilience during difficult times. As the 2025 IndyCar season progresses past Toronto, the focus will be on learning from pit stop errors, regaining confidence during qualifying, and recapturing the performance levels seen in the previous season.
The challenges faced at the Team Penske IndyCar Toronto race could serve as a catalyst for improvement, both for McLaughlin and the wider squad, as they strive to climb the standings and contend once more alongside drivers like Alex Palou, Colton Herta, Josef Newgarden, and Will Power. The remainder of the year is poised to test the determination and adaptability of the Penske crew as they seek to reverse their fortunes before the season concludes.
