IndyCar great Scott Dixon has welcomed Scott McLaughlin's potential move to the United States in 2021.
Two-time Supercars champion McLaughlin is expected to make the switch to single-seaters next year, after a highly successful test with Team Penske last month.
The flying Kiwi has dominated most of the last three Australian seasons, since his switch to Ford's DJR-Team Penske in 2017. Owner Roger Penske is a huge fan of the 26-year-old and has indicated McLaughlin's transition to his IndyCar team will take place over the next two years.
That's exciting news for former Indy 500 winner Dixon, who has flown the Kiwi flag in America for more than two decades.
Speaking to NZME, Dixon praised the 2019 Bathurst champion and his potential US arrival.
"I chat to Scott fairly often," Dixon told Radio Sport. "Obviously, I keep a strong eye on any of the Supercars races - I watch them all.
"I've known him for a little while, and spoke to him quite a bit before he did the [IndyCar] test and a little bit after the test he did at Sebring.
"Then there's word that he might do a couple races this year or maybe just the open test.
"It'll be interesting. It's definitely very different, I think, from what he's done in the past, but he's an extremely talented person and very capable, so I think it would be fantastic to have another Kiwi over in America in the IndyCar series.
"Hopefully, that plays through."
McLaughlin completed more than 140 laps of the Sebring road circuit and his lap times impressed former IndyCar series champion Will Power.
But Dixon - a five-time champion - cautioned expectations on his fellow Kiwi, despite the long list of credentials.
The 39-year-old believes McLaughlin will take time to become accustomed to open-wheel racing.
"It's always just a time thing, I think, and sometimes you do get it or you don't get it.
"But ultimately, when you find the guys that are at the level of Scott and others that are racing IndyCar or Supercar or endurance series and things like that, the good guys always get it in time.
"He's probably a little more on the extreme side, just because he hasn't really done much Formula cars, even in his junior categories, [but] I think he's going to be perfectly fine.
"It'll be interesting to see his transition on ovals and things like that, but he's with a great team with great teammates and he's a very talented guy, so he'll be looking good."
Despite his longevity in the series, retirement is still a dirty world for Dixon, who is eyeing a historic sixth championship in 2020. Another title would life the Auckland-born speedster to within one of American legend AJ Foyt.
"The fire is still burning strong and the team is really competitive, and I think the off-season changes that we've made with personnel and bringing in a lot more depth to the engineering side is definitely going to lift the team."
