Look back in history Sunday: Pennzoil at the Indy 500 – Will McLaughlin add to the history?

News this week that Kiwi driver and soon to be a NTT IndyCar Series rookie, Scott McLaughlin, will run the famous Pennzoil livery on his Chev powered Dallara in this year’s running of the Indianapolis 500. The three-time Supercars champion has made the switch to single seaters and will run the season, except at The Brickyard, in the PGG paint scheme.

The Pennzoil livery is a standout on any the grid, and known as the ‘Yellow Submarine’, making it to the Indy 500 victory lane three times.

***Johnny Rutherford, winner of the 1980 Indianapolis 500***

Johnny Rutherford won his third Indianapolis 500 in 1980 with the livery. He won pole, led for 118 laps and won by nearly 30 seconds.

In 1984, it was Rick Mear,s with the Pennzoil livery, winning his second 500 (he went on to win four in total -1979, 1984, 1988 and 1991) for Team Penske. He literally cruised to victory when top contenders Tom Sneva and Mario Andretti retired, leaving Mears two laps ahead of the field.

***Rick Mears, winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 1988***

Then in 1988, Mears again won (his third Indy 500) at the 72^nd running of the 500. His Team Penske had three cars on the front row of the grid, Mears on pole with Danny Sullivan in the middle and Al Unser Sr on the outside.

Now with McLaughlin piloting the Yellow Submarine for this season’s running of the ‘500’, will we see his car in victory lane and the Kiwi drinking the milk? I’d say his chances are better than 33:1.

Main picture: Roger Penske, Rick Mears and AJ Foyt in 1988