Two-time IndyCar champ hails Scott McLaughlin 'one of the most elite drivers in the world'
Josef Newgarden has hailed his Team Penske offsider Scott McLaughlin "one of the most elite drivers in the world" currently competing in motorsport.
After an up-and-down debut campaign, McLaughlin has enjoyed a breakout second season of IndyCar competition alongside Newgarden and Will Power.
This year alone, McLaughlin has two wins, two pole positions, and a further four podiums.
Stan Sport is the only place to watch the 2022 IndyCar Series. Continues September 4-5 with round 16 in Portland. All the action streaming ad-free, live and on demand
His latest performance, third in St. Louis, saw him come agonisingly close to scoring another win.
Instead, he finished third to Newgarden having run second for the majority of the final stint after racing resumed following a two-hour-long red flag.
Scott McLaughlin holds down sixth in the IndyCar standings with two races to go. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It's the second time this season that Newgarden has pipped McLaughlin to the win after a last lap, last corner pass in Texas earlier this year.
"First, with Scott, it's a little bittersweet because we have a great friendship," said Newgarden after his fifth win of the season.
READ MORE: Kyrgios handed cruel US Open draw
READ MORE: Kev unloads after 'broken' Broncos' train wreck
READ MORE: Bewildered Andrew Johns rips Ben Hunt's rare contract wish
"He's a tremendous competitor. I rank Scott as one of the most elite drivers in the world, not just here, but in the world. He's top class, very difficult to beat.
"We get along really great. He's a tremendous teammate, hard worker. It's not the easiest friendship to have because we're competing.
"At the end of the day he wanted to win the race and I wanted to win the race. I was frustrated that we slipped behind him on the pit cycle. I felt like we had the position on him, and that frustrated me."
Josef Newgarden (left) and Team Penske off-sider Scott McLaughlin. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
McLaughlin and Newgarden have enjoyed a positive relationship off-track too, their antics documented in a YouTube series called BusBros.
The two-time series winner said it's a difficult balance going head-to-head with each other, especially knowing how good their friendship is.
"I think ultimately we have a tremendous working relationship," Newgarden explained.
"Nights like this are good. At the end of the day, if we're battling together, things are going well.
"We want to see that pretty often. I think we will see that often. Scott is not going to go anywhere. He's only going to get better.
Josef Newgarden crosses the finish line to win ahead of Scott McLaughlin, at Texas Motor Speedway. Getty
"I hope we have more battles. They will be tough because I respect him a lot, consider him a friend, but he's also a competitor.
"We just talked about Bus Bros, how he was pissed, how we were going to race each other hard. Normal stuff."
McLaughlin is mathematically in the running, 54 points in arrears of series leader and teammate Will Power.
While Newgarden has the most wins of anyone this year, he's been blighted by inconsistency. Just three points split Newgarden and Power with two races to go.
The series continues at Portland International Raceway on September 5.
Incredible escapes: The worst crashes in motorsport history
