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Scotty Mac Dominates Second Practice at Laguna Seca
Highlights
- Scott McLaughlin led shortened 25-minute second practice session.
- Practice cut short due to catch fence repairs after crash.
- Felix Rosenqvist and Alex Palou followed closely in second, third.
- Qualifying for NTT P1 Award begins today at 4:30 p.m. ET.
- Race set for Sunday, 95 laps, starting at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Scott McLaughlin tops a truncated second practice at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. A support-series crash at the Corkscrew forces fence repairs, limiting Mission Foods Grand Prix running to 25 minutes.
He clocks 1:10.3014 in the No. 3 DEX Team Penske Chevrolet, chasing a first series win since Milwaukee in August 2024 and setting the benchmark despite limited preparation.
Felix Rosenqvist continues strong form in second with a 1:10.5433 for Meyer Shank Racing, while Alex Palou’s Laguna Seca form delivers 1:10.5575 for third in DHL Lightning Bolt Ganassi entry.
Second practice shortened to 25 minutes after catch-fence repairs at the Corkscrew.
David Malukas is fourth on 1:10.5754 in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, with Will Power fifth on 1:10.5789 for Andretti Global’s No. 26 TWG AI Honda.
The top five are covered by 0.2775s, underlining a compressed field and raising the premium on track position as teams pivot to qualifying runs after curtailed long-run evaluation.
Scott McLaughlin sets the benchmark at 1:10.3014 in the No. 3 Penske Chevrolet.
Lost time forces compressed setup programmes, with less scope for tyre warm-up work and balance sweeps. Expect conservative changes and greater sensitivity to track evolution during the late-afternoon qualifying window.
Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award begins at 4:30 p.m. ET on FS2, FOX One, and INDYCAR Radio, where outright pace and traffic management will likely decide group progression.
Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award begins at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Sunday’s 95-lap race starts at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, and INDYCAR Radio, forming the centrepiece of the season finale at Laguna Seca.
Sunday’s race is 95 laps, starting 2:30 p.m. ET.
Palou’s position is notable given his championship pedigree, with Ganassi expected to refine high-speed rotation, echoing Alex Palou’s 2026 championship form.
With minimal long-run data, undercuts and in-out lap execution may prove decisive on Sunday, particularly around traffic through the Corkscrew and Turn 11 braking stability.
Visual Summary
Scott McLaughlin owns the shortened Practice 2 with a blistering lap as the Corkscrew drama strikes again.
1
McLaughlin
1:10.3014
Rosenqvist
1:10.5433
Palou
1:10.5575
Malukas
1:10.5754
Power
1:10.5789
⏳ McLaughlin’s first win since Milwaukee (August ’24) is on the line. Will he break the drought?
Qualifying:
Today, 4:30 p.m. ET
Grand Prix:
Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET
Laguna Seca delivers speed, chaos, and a showdown at the season finale.
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.
