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Scott McLaughlin Claims Historic Pole Position at Laguna Seca
Highlights
- Scott McLaughlin earned Chevrolet’s 250th INDYCAR pole at Laguna Seca
- McLaughlin’s pole time: 1:09.1363, aiming to end 36-race winless streak
- Alex Palou qualified second; three-time race winner at Laguna Seca
- Alexander Rossi achieved best non-oval qualifying position of the season
- Christian Lundgaard starts 11th due to six-place grid penalty
- Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey starts Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET
Scott McLaughlin claims pole at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with 1:09.1363 for the Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey, securing Chevrolet’s 250th INDYCAR pole ahead of the season finale.
Driving the No. 3 DEX Team Penske Chevrolet, he targets ending a 36‑race winless streak dating to Milwaukee 2024. Historically, 18 of 28 Laguna Seca poles convert to victories.
Chevrolet’s 250th INDYCAR pole arrives via McLaughlin’s 1:09.1363 at Laguna Seca.
McLaughlin says the car feels strong since it left the hauler. He credits race engineer Raul Prados and Penske’s road‑course rebound after earlier pace deficits.
His third NTT P1 Award of 2026 follows St. Petersburg and Milwaukee. A slender margin over Alex Palou underlines Penske’s rebound. See our McLaughlin Laguna Seca report.
Palou qualifies second on 1:09.1540 in the No. 10 DHL Lightning Bolt Honda. He has won three of the last four here, twice from pole, reinforcing Palou’s Laguna Seca record.
Despite missing a ninth pole, he has 12 front‑row starts in 18 races. Felix Rosenqvist takes third after strong practices, with Alexander Rossi fourth in 1:09.3247, his best road‑course slot.
Palou logs 12 front-row starts in 18 races, underlining relentless consistency.
Christian Lundgaard qualifies fifth at 1:10.2227 in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. An unapproved post‑Milwaukee engine change triggers a six‑place grid drop, leaving him 11th on Sunday.
Lundgaard’s unapproved engine change triggers a six-place grid penalty, dropping him to 11th.
Lundgaard, David Malukas, Kyle Kirkwood, and Pato O’Ward fight for second in the standings. Kirkwood starts seventh; O’Ward lines up 13th after early elimination. See O’Ward’s recent form.
The 95‑lap season finale begins Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET. Coverage includes FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, and INDYCAR Radio, complementing our Laguna Seca preview.
Converting pole will hinge on tire warm‑up, track evolution, and Corkscrew traffic. Pit windows and caution timing could prove decisive, sharpening strategic pressure on Team Penske and chief rivals.
Visual Summary
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POLE POSITION
Chevrolet’s 250th INDYCAR Pole
McLaughlin’s Lap
🛞
💧
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36-race Pole-to-win Drought
3️⃣
NTT P1 Awards
in 2026
in 2026
Fastest 4 Set the Grid
1
McLaughlin
Chevrolet
1:09.136
2
Palou
Honda
1:09.154
3
Rosenqvist
Honda
1:09.278
4
Rossi
Chevrolet
1:09.325
Will pole lead to victory?
McLaughlin makes history – can he turn golden pole into victory?
Sunday 2:30 p.m. ET – Mission Foods GP, Laguna Seca
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.
