After beginning on pole within the No. 3 Chevrolet, McLaughlin made one of the best of a three-stop technique to steer a race-high 58 of 90 laps across the 2.3-mile, 17-turn highway course, beating Energy, who underwent an engine change after the morning warm-up, by 1.3194s.
Chip Ganassi Racing rookie Linus Lundqvist delivered a powerful drive to complete third – the primary podium of his profession.
Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist completed fourth, forward of reigning and two-time IndyCar Collection champion Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing).
The entrance row of McLaughlin and Energy began on the more durable major tires, with the previous capable of get a clear soar into Flip 1 when the inexperienced flag waved.
Ed Carpenter Racing’s Rinus VeeKay, who began final within the 27-car discipline, was making an attempt to make up floor when he tagged Sting Ray Robb (AJ Foyt Racing), sending him round and accumulating Jack Harvey (Dale Coyne Racing) in Flip 1. All would proceed on, with VeeKay receiving a drive-through penalty.
The subsequent lap featured elbows out racing between Colton Herta (Andretti International) and Santino Ferrucci (Foyt), with the pair making contact on lap 2 after which once more two laps later with Ferrucci delivering a hip examine whereas the 2 have been working 18th and nineteenth.
Whereas that was occurring, Pato O’Ward, who began fourth within the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, endured a depressing begin as he locked up and spun to keep away from rear-ending third-place man Christian Lundgaard (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing).
O’Ward fell to twenty fourth however was then concerned within the first warning on lap 5 after clipping the curb and shunting Pietro Fittipaldi, Lundgaard’s team-mate, into the Flip 13 obstacles. O’Ward acquired a drive-thru penalty as soon as the race restarted on lap 7.
The runner-up place modified fingers on lap 23 after Energy went broad in Flip 5 and astray briefly, dropping to 3rd and elevating Lundgaard, working on a set of used softer alternate tires.
Lungaard pitted the following lap swapped to a set of latest softer rubber, with Energy coming in for service on lap 27 and altering to used alternates. McLaughlin replicated his team-mate’s tire technique when he pitted on lap 28.
After the cycle of stops among the many discipline, McLaughlin reclaimed the lead on lap 35 and carried a 7.2s lead over Lundgaard by lap 38.
The warning got here out once more on lap 43 for Alexander Rossi, who misplaced his left rear wheel and ended up stopped astray.
A number of takers got here to pit, together with McLaughlin, who took on a brand new set of alternates. Energy additionally took alternates and was capable of get out forward of Lundgaard.
Amongst these to not pit was Palou, who assumed the race lead within the No. 10 Honda, with Felix Roseqvist (Meyer Shank Racing) second. Marcus Armstrong and Ferrucci lined up third and fourth when the restart occurred on lap 48.
After he restarted seventeenth and enduring a battle with Energy, the pair swapping positions briefly, McLaughlin started to cost ahead, transferring as much as fifteenth by lap 50.
A 3rd warning waved on lap 55 after Robb went heavy into the Flip 1 barrier, saying “I believe my steering wheel broke” over the radio.
Palou, Rosenqvist and Armstrong have been among the many takers to hit pit highway. Ferrucci stayed out and took over the lead, forward of rookie Linus Lundqvist (Chip Ganassi Racing). Palou took primaries, whereas Armstrong and Rosenqvist opted for used alternates.
With many takers to pit lane, it propelled McLaughlin to 3rd, adopted by rookie Kyffin Simpson, Energy and Lundgaard.
After the preliminary restart was waved off on lap 59, it went inexperienced on lap 60 with Ferrucci main Lundqvist and McLaughlin.
Ferrucci pitted from the lead and swapped for a set of latest alternates on lap 66, placing him in play to make it to the top. Lundqvist vaulted to the lead however handed off to McLaughlin by pitting with 20 laps to go.
McLaughlin constructed up over 3.5s lead over Energy, however the two, together with Lundgaard, pitted with 15 laps to. McLaughlin, on used alternates for the ultimate stint, returned with the lead, forward of Energy and Palou, on a conservative technique, rose to 3rd however 7.6s behind.
Lundqvist moved into the highest three with a transfer by his CGR team-mate Palou with 12 laps to go.
McLaughlin’s lead of over 3.5s evaporated when the warning waved with 5 laps to go after rookie Christian Rasmussen slid and stalled in Flip 13.
The late restart occurred with two laps to go, and McLaughlin made a getway from his team-mate, who got here below stress from Lundqvist.
Ultimately, McLaughlin scooted away with the win, forward of Energy and Lundqvist.
