High Stakes Fuel Thrilling Season Finale at Laguna Seca This Weekend

INDYCAR’s 2026 season ends at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET, with the Mission Foods Grand Prix deciding key positions despite Alex Palou already clinching the title.

Seventeen races feature three new venues, a record Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, and a Washington, D.C. street event. Seven different winners, including three rookies, underline a competitive, transitional year.

Alex Palou secures a fifth championship with six wins this season, following eight last year. He holds a 100-point lead and 25 victories from 34 starts entering Monterey.

Laguna Seca remains Palou’s most productive circuit, with three wins from the past four events, including the last two. Scott Dixon is the only other previous winner in the field.

Second place stays live. Christian Lundgaard leads Kyle Kirkwood and Pato O’Ward by four points combined, after O’Ward’s Milwaukee sweep slashed his deficit from 63 to four.

David Malukas holds fifth for Team Penske, 23 points behind Lundgaard. He still chases a maiden win after six runner-up finishes, the most among active drivers without a victory.

Within Arrow McLaren, Lundgaard targets top-team status despite no 2027 deal. A three-car plan prioritizes Indy 500 pedigree, including Dixon and 2026 winner Felix Rosenqvist, mirroring Aston Martin F1 response.

Scott Dixon contests his final race with Chip Ganassi Racing after 25 years. He seeks a 21st consecutive winning season, having last gone winless in 2004.

Will Power at Andretti Global chases his 19th winning season to surpass A.J. Foyt. He owns 45 wins but none since August 2025. Christian Rasmussen and Scott McLaughlin remain winless.

Rinus VeeKay targets a top-10 championship for Juncos Hollinger Racing after a milestone Milwaukee podium. The team has never finished better than 16th overall.

Rookie of the Year remains unsettled. Dennis Hauger leads Mick Schumacher by 18 points, with Caio Collet 30 adrift.

Laguna Seca’s low-grip surface and elevation changes reward tyre discipline and error management, reflecting techniques highlighted in our Circuit Zandvoort guide.

Track action begins Friday at 5 p.m. ET, with practice and qualifying Saturday.

The 95-lap race airs Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on television and INDYCAR Radio, complementing 2026 Italian Grand Prix coverage.

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Brian Thompson

Brian Thompson focuses on IndyCar Series news, from qualifying speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to street-course race strategy. He delivers concise feature stories and technical breakdowns on chassis setups, tire choices, and championship standings for open-wheel enthusiasts.