The Latest Breaking News from McLaren

While former team principal Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Permane both reckoned that it would realistically take a few more years for the Enstone-based squad to hit its victory targets, the French car manufacturer’s senior management believed it could be done quicker. 

With Fernando Alonso having helped breathe some excitement into the early races as he emerged as the shock main challenger to Red Bull, the squad even came close to victory in the Monaco Grand Prix.  

Kirkwood finished 0.7633s ahead of Team Penske’s polewinner Scott McLaughlin and series dominator Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing). The race was red-flagged in the closing stages for a multi-car pileup, but Kirkwood kept his cool for his second win of the season.

Drama began even before the 160-minute race got underway, with the pole-sitting #31 Action Express Cadillac forced to start from the back after an incident for Alexander Sims in warmup.

McLaughlin whipped around the 11-turn, 2.1-mile temporary street course with a best lap of 1m14.6099s, and will start ahead of Pato O’Ward (Arrow McLaren) and Colton Herta (Andretti).

Derani lapped the newly repaved Road America course in 1m47.730s, earning pole position for the first time since Sebring.

Derani lapped the newly repaved Road America course in 1:47.730s, earning pole position for the first time since Sebring.

Power lapped the 11-turn, 2.1-mile temporary street course in 1m16.4042s but ended his session by smashing into the wall at Turn 1.

Or: Facing fears and chasing thrills at the Sun Valley Tour de Force.