Pato O’Ward Aims for Thrilling Triple Win to End Season

Pato O’Ward arrives at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca chasing a historic streak. The Arrow McLaren driver targets a third consecutive victory at the Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey.

Back-to-back wins at Milwaukee propel him to fourth in the standings. He trails teammate Christian Lundgaard by four points with second place still achievable in the finale.

This would be his first Laguna Seca podium. He owns 12 victories, three this season. Those three are also his only podiums across 17 starts in the No. 5 Chevrolet.

Palou leads with seven podiums and 12 top-fives. O’Ward has ten top-fives. A third straight win would match Palou’s 2025 streak across Barber, the Sonsio Grand Prix, plus Indianapolis 500.

Laguna Seca remains unfinished business. His best result is fourth in 2025, with fifth in 2021. Friday practice pace looks promising, with O’Ward third fastest in the opening session.

Elsewhere, change is coming. Scott Dixon is set to join Arrow McLaren next year, reuniting with O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist as the organisation expands its experienced core.

Rosenqvist completes his Meyer Shank Racing stint this weekend. He lifted MSR from 25th to sixth in points and delivered its first win since 2021 with an Indianapolis 500 pass.

He starts the finale ninth in the standings and was second fastest on Friday. The Swede calls the occasion emotional but remains intent on signing off with a win.

Rosenqvist owns two top-fives from six Laguna Seca starts and took pole in 2023. The profile suits his strengths if track evolution rewards early confidence.

Laguna Seca also honours Alex Zanardi. The Corkscrew is officially named the Zanardi Corkscrew, marking 30 years since his audacious 1996 pass on Bryan Herta sealed CART folklore.

A ceremony at Turn 8 features Chip Ganassi and series greats. A marker and signage bearing Zanardi’s car now sit trackside as a permanent reminder.

Off-track, Meyer Shank Racing partners with rock band Nickelback to preview a new No. 60 Honda livery. The group serves as grand marshal, adding to recent paddock buzz at Monterey.

Grid penalties shape Sunday. Christian Lundgaard and rookie Caio Collet each take six-place drops for unapproved engine changes following the Milwaukee races, tightening strategic margins.

INDYCAR’s audience trend is strong. The Milwaukee doubleheader averaged 950,000 viewers, the series’ best since 2011, and season viewership is up 27 percent year-on-year.

The title is settled, but the competitive narrative remains. O’Ward hunts a rare triple, Rosenqvist targets a farewell victory, and Arrow McLaren’s future lineup sharpens the focus at Monterey.

With momentum and stakes aligned, Laguna Seca offers a fitting coda to 2026. Execution will decide whether O’Ward completes the hat-trick at the season finale at Laguna Seca in Monterey.

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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.