NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 109TH RUNNING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS 500

May 16, 2025

Kyle Kirkwood

Scott McLaughlin

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Kyle Kirkwood is also joining us. He just arrived, as is Scott McLaughlin and company. Scott, driving the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet. Of course, last year's pole winner here at Indianapolis. Quickest today at 233.9 miles an hour. Third best four-lap average today as well.

Kyle Kirkwood, driver of the No. 27 Siemens Honda for Andretti Global. Finished seventh last year. Fourth quick overall today. Fifth best four-lap average. Note, four Hondas in the top five. We'll see what that means ahead of tomorrow's qualifying.

Scott, we'll begin with you. Do you care to introduce anyone there?

SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Lucy's first IMS press conference. I thought I would just bring her up and see what she thought about it. Just ending a fast run on a fun note.

THE MODERATOR: How was your day?

SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Great day. It was a short day. We went out pretty early in the morning knowing that the conditions were just going to get tougher and tougher and then eventually were really, really good at the end. Yeah, I thought we did a really good job at the time.

I thought our run -- we did two full runs, and not many people actually did that, including my teammates as well.

Yeah, I feel really good in the Pennzoil Yellow Submarine, and I feel like we were able to knock out some really good speed. Then obviously track temps go down, and the ambient is hot, so less drag later on this afternoon. I think we're in a really good spot for tomorrow, and hopefully we can put a big number up, and the girls can pick me a decent draw.

THE MODERATOR: I was going to say, what's it like having Lucy here in?

SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: It's awesome. They came in last night. I'm so excited. Yeah, I just want her to experience everything she can. She has no idea what's going on, but it's pretty cool having her up here, to be honest.

THE MODERATOR: You need to capture as many photos and videos as you can because when she gets older, she's going to love this.

SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: That's what I mean. Just soaking it in for her, and then hopefully one day she's, like, Oh, that was pretty cool. Yeah.

THE MODERATOR: That's awesome. Glad to have you guys. Kyle Kirkwood, again. Fourth quick overall. Four Hondas in the top five today. Does that mean anything for tomorrow or Sunday? What do you think?

KYLE KIRKWOOD: That's a great question. I hope so. There's been a huge effort from everyone involved. Obviously Honda. Hopefully today is an indicator of how we are tomorrow, but not really sure at this moment.

THE MODERATOR: A lot happening today obviously, and then the conditions are going to change as the checkered flag is out on the session here this afternoon. Sometimes what happens today, Kyle, maybe doesn't translate because weather-wise who knows what's going to happen, right?

KYLE KIRKWOOD: Yeah, what is it supposed to be 25 degrees cooler tomorrow and maybe a little bit windier? It requires a lot of change for everyone, including the engine manufacturer. So it's going to be different days, which is why they we want out there, ran right away, and then stopped because they know it's going to be different tomorrow.

I think you're going to see a lot of takers tomorrow in the practice, which is unlike anything.

THE MODERATOR: Usually we don't see that.

KYLE KIRKWOOD: Yeah, I know.

THE MODERATOR: We'll open it up to questions.

Q. You were pretty confident yesterday talking to media. Are you guys confident after today as you were yesterday?

KYLE KIRKWOOD: I would say we're confident in the sense that we have a shot. Honestly, the past couple of days I thought we had a little bit more and even on my teammates. Colton obviously threw in a pretty good lap there at the end.

So maybe lost a little pace. We're good as a group, right? We're extremely strong. I think all of our cars are contenders for at least the Fast 12, and certainly we are. If we have a shot at the pole, I'm unsure of at the moment, but we're close. We're fine-tunings away from being a contender.

Q. Kyle, tomorrow morning the morning session might be busy, so it's going to be hard to get a lap maybe without a tow. How are do you play that tomorrow morning?

KYLE KIRKWOOD: I don't know if we're going to run. I haven't spoken to the team. Just based on today's conditions and tomorrow's, you would expect maybe some people to run.

Q. Scott, for you confidence level this Friday night compared to this time last year, and is there a major importance in having an early draw tomorrow?

SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: Confidence level is very similar. I feel very good about the car. It's definitely harder. It's a handful, especially those last couple of laps for anyone.

But, yeah, look, I think cool temps, it doesn't really matter. I think I'm excited to see whatever draw we have. It's just your destiny at that point.

Ideally, yes, but hopefully we have enough car pace that it doesn't matter, but I don't want to eat my words either. It's always tough around here. You just have to make sure you do the four laps and see where it puts you.

Q. How difficult are those four laps, and how difficult is it to do it ultimately three times to win the pole?

SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: That's I think the hardest thing right now. Doing the ones on Sunday, especially that blew my mind a little bit just how hard, and you're on the limit for basically eight laps on Sunday, which are some of the hardest laps you'll ever do. I think they're going to be even harder this weekend with the wind and whatever.

I think you'll see some really fast times on Sunday, whoever gets in. I think the track temp is going to be down. The wind is going to be down. I think the car is going to be super quick.

THE MODERATOR: Scott, be careful. Lucy is clearly infatuated with Kyle.

Q. Scott, congratulations. One question for you. A little technical question. You are running now with highest boost, if I understood the regulations correctly. When you are running with higher boost, does the car have to be adjusted as well to the higher boost, or you just put the boost up?

SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: I put the boost up. We have a very similar setup to what we had last year, and you just fine-tune with the weight, but you certainly do need to have a think about that from a balance perspective. Obviously you're trying to judge drag with downforce as well. Yeah, we definitely had to adjust things as the runs went on.

Q. Not necessary to make big adjustment to the car.

SCOTT McLAUGHLIN: No, not a huge amount, if the car is in the window.

THE MODERATOR: Obviously the qualifying draw is coming up next. We'll switch out the room pretty quickly and get that started around 6:15. Scott, Lucy, Kyle, good luck in the draw. Have a great night .