Ryan: The shoey fits for Scott McLaughlin as IndyCar gains appealing new star in St. Pete

ST PETERSBURG, Florida – The NTT IndyCar Series’ newest winner was asked if he wanted a bottle of water, and an exhausted Scott McLaughlin politely declined with a question of his own.

“Why is there no beer?” a weary McLaughlin said with a smile while sitting on the aeroscreen of his No. 3 Dallara-Chevrolet during for the procession of photos. “Yeah, like we need beer.”

Team Penske marketing and PR reps quickly huddled to make a phone call to the hospitality suites, and a gold can of Miller High Life was shuttled over within minutes. As soon as McLaughlin popped the top, the chant began from a group of fans who had been shouting “We love you!’ from just beyond the gates of victory lane.

“Shoey! Shoey! Shoey!”

After making a request for celebratory beer, @GPSTPETE victor @smclaughlin93 just fulfilled fans asking him for a “shoey” in victory lane.

The newest @IndyCar winner was happy to comply. pic.twitter.com/ZRjtf7T27V

— Nate Ryan (@nateryan) February 27, 2022

McLaughlin immediately stood up in his cockpit, removed his right shoe and emptied in 12 ounces of alcohol in an elaborate flourish. With a triumphant pose, he guzzled down the champagne of beers to raucous cheers.

“Can’t taste any better,” he said.

It wasn’t McLaughlin’s first shoey – a victory celebration that is popular Down Under and made famous by Australian Daniel Riccardio after his F1 wins.

But it surely won’t be McLaughin’s last in IndyCar, whose 2022 season opener christened a budding star Sunday.

As a rookie last year, McLaughlin started a #ScottLearnsAmerica social media campaign to introduce the Christchurch, New Zealand, native to the wonders of NFL Red Zone channel, U.S. landmarks and Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Now that he burst out this weekend for his