Scott McLaughlin Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand's Scott McLaughlin has won the latest IndyCar race in Alabama.
The Team Penske driver started from fourth on the grid, just ahead of compatriot Scott Dixon.
Dixon finished the race in seventh place.
McLaughlin took the lead in the second half of the race after coming out of pit lane ahead of Romain Grosjean, before the Frenchman made a strong pass to move back in front.
McLaughlin then reclaimed the lead with 19 laps remaining and stayed in front until the chequered flag for the fourth win of his IndyCar career and first this season.
"My team advanced me to victory lane, we had great fuel, managed to pass Grosjean on strategy so I feel really good about it," he said afterwards
McLaughlin is now up to fourth in the overall drivers standings after four races
Marcus Ericsson leads with 130 points, Pato O'Ward has 127, Alex Polou 121 and McLaughlin 119.
The win advanced McLaughlin six places in the standings, so naturally the 29 year old is excited about the next few rounds.
"May is going to be an awesome time for us, the best race in the world is coming up soon (Indianapolis 500) and to end April like this and start May on a good note is a proud achievement.
The third New Zealander in the field, Marcus Armstrong was 11th.
Scott Dixon is eighth in the standings, 32 points off the leader.
The next round is in Indianapolis in a fortnight, using part of the oval as well as some of the track in the infield.
The famed Indy 500 is at the end of the month.
