McLaughlin on fresher tires and no fuel worries was able to pounce on the two-stopping polesitter Romain Grosjean, when the Frenchman ran wide at Turn 5 on Lap 72, shortly after running out of push-to-pass boost. McLaughlin drew alongside him on corner exit, and the Chevrolet with push-to-pass activated easily out-accelerated the Honda-powered Andretti Autosport machine along the long drag to Turn 8.
Thereafter, McLaughlin was able to edge away and keep Grosjean at arm’s length.
