Lauren Dusa is an all-around mechanic and stop board crew member for Scott McLaughlin’s No. 3 Team Penske IndyCar, making her mark in one of motorsport’s most elite environments despite having zero racing background growing up.

EARLY YEARS

Dusa didn’t grow up trackside with oil under her fingernails and racing dreams. She came to motorsports the unconventional way—through a fascination with engines, not checkered flags. While working on engines in her earlier years, racing wasn’t on her radar. The mechanical world drew her in through pure technical interest, not family tradition or childhood track days. That outsider perspective would later become one of her biggest assets when she landed at Team Penske.

OTHER INTERESTS

Information about Dusa’s interests outside of motorsports is not currently available.

EARLY SUCCESS

In August 2023, Dusa joined Scott McLaughlin’s No. 3 Dallara-Chevy team at Team Penske as an all-around mechanic[1]. It was a significant leap into the deep end of IndyCar—no prior racing background, just raw mechanical skill and the willingness to learn everything fast. At Penske’s shop, she dove into subassembly work on gearboxes, mastering the intricate systems that keep an IndyCar screaming around ovals and road courses[2]. She also tackled bodywork, getting hands-on experience with the dynamics of building the car from multiple angles[3]. At the track, she focuses on brakes—a critical system where precision can mean the difference between a podium and a wreck[4]. Her role on the stop board during pit stops added another layer of responsibility, requiring split-second communication and flawless execution under the intense pressure of race day[5].

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2023: Joined Team Penske as an all-around mechanic on Scott McLaughlin’s No. 3 IndyCar team[1].
• 2024: Served as stop board crew member for McLaughlin’s car during the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season[5].

INSPIRATIONS

Information about Dusa’s specific inspirations is not currently available.

REPUTATION

Dusa has earned respect at Team Penske for her versatility and her ability to learn quickly in a high-stakes environment. Coming in without a racing pedigree could have been a liability, but instead it became proof of her work ethic and technical chops. She’s part of a growing wave of female mechanics breaking into IndyCar’s male-dominated pit lane, and her presence on McLaughlin’s crew highlights the shifting landscape at the sport’s highest level. Her hands-on experience across gearboxes, bodywork, and brake systems shows she’s not pigeonholed into one role—she’s building a well-rounded skill set that makes her invaluable to the team. In a garage where every millisecond counts and mistakes are brutally exposed, Dusa has held her ground.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Dusa continues to work with Team Penske on Scott McLaughlin’s No. 3 car for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, serving as stop board crew member alongside her shop duties[6]. As she builds experience and deepens her technical knowledge, she’s positioned to take on even more responsibilities within the team. Whether that means advancing into engineering roles, expanding her pit crew duties, or mentoring the next generation of women entering motorsports, Dusa is carving out a long-term path in a field where longevity requires both skill and grit.

REFERENCES

Making Indy 500 history about pressure, pride for Team Penske pit crew – NBC Sports
Scott McLaughlin – Team Penske Media
Drivers | Scott McLaughlin – Team Penske