Jason Johannisen is fast, Adam Treloar is pretty quick, and Tom Liberatore’s hands are lightning – but they’ve got nothing on the fastest Dog of them all.
Passionate Bulldogs supporter, Scott McLaughlin, will be living his dream when he debuts in the world’s biggest motorsport event, the Indianapolis 500.
McLaughlin – who has won the past three Supercars Championships – will start 17th in the greatest spectacle in racing on Monday morning, Australian time.
It’s his first run in the 500 in his new Indycar pursuit, racing for American giant Roger Penske.
“I’m a lucky guy, I’m driving one of the fastest cars in the world for one of the best teams in one of the biggest races – I have to pinch myself,” McLaughlin told westernbulldogs.com.au.
“We’re starting mid-pack so it will be a hairy first few laps – but it’s a damn long race and anything can happen so I’m hopeful of a good showing.”
McLaughlin is the hottest rookie in the IndyCar field this year – having finished second last month in his first oval race in Texas.
His qualifying speed for the Indianapolis 500 was a staggering 230 miles an hour – just over 360 kilometres an hour.
The likeable Kiwi remains a passionate Bulldogs man – and has kept tabs with the club in their impressive start to the year.
“The guys at Fox Footy were good enough to hook me up with a Watch AFL pass so I’ve been able to watch a lot more of the Dogs over here than I thought I’d be able to,” McLaughlin said.
“They’re going stellar, it’s actually really, really cool to see.
“You can see with the way they’re playing – the way Lachie Hunter going against the flight of the ball last week to take that mark, even with a broken hand – the courage they’re showing is really cool to see.
“I’m just sad I’m not there to see it and go and watch some games live – it’s crazy that of all the stuff I miss back home, going to the footy is right up there.”
But the time difference is causing some very early starts to watch the boys in red, white and blue.
“I’m big on the last quarters – I try and get up early and it’s normally just hitting three quarter time for the night games,” McLaughlin said.
The Indianapolis 500 starts at 3am on Monday morning.
