McLaughlin Beats Teammate Power to Win First IndyCar Pole

Scott McLaughlin, driver of the #3 Team Penske Chevrolet, during the preseason test at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas on March 31, 2021. Cooper Neill/Getty Images

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Scott McLaughlin circled qualifying as the area he had to improve upon in his second season of IndyCar. He nailed it in his first session of the year.

McLaughlin beat Team Penske teammate Will Power, one of the best qualifiers in series history, to win the pole Saturday for the season-opening race through the downtown streets of St. Petersburg.