IndyCar held the season finale race on Sunday, capping off the 2026 season with a customary journey to Laguna Seca.
The historic course is all the time a thrill for drivers and followers that come out to look at the motion are all the time educated in all issues motorsports.
These followers the crammed the hillsides and the paddock loved improbable climate and blue skies all day lengthy.
READ MORE: IndyCar Laguna Seca – Full Race Outcomes
Sadly, followers at residence have been perhaps rather less thrilled with the occasion because of a relative lack of exercise on the entrance of the sphere.
The shortage of passing was not an issue for Scott McLaughlin, nonetheless, because the Kiwi began from pole and cruised to the win.
He didn’t pull distant from the competitors, as a sure five-time champion Spaniard has completed up to now, however grip and aerowash saved the hole over a second for a lot of the race.
The win was McLaughlin’s first of the season and his eighth of his IndyCar profession. He secures sixth within the standings, and was ecstatic to have the ability to do donuts for the followers together with his Chevy engine that’s not wanted.
Kyle Kirkwood began in sixth, however moved ahead within the opening stint. His automotive was extra spectacular than all however one within the subject, and he held second comparatively simply.
By taking his sixth podium of the yr, Kirkwood locked up second within the factors standings.
Alexander Rossi saved Kirkwood in his sights all day and was third throughout the road, incomes his first podium since becoming a member of Ed Carpenter Racing final yr.
He admitted that the irritating yr has worn him and his group down at instances, however hopes the rostrum will set them in the best course for 2027.
Center of the pack
Simply off the rostrum was Felix Rosenqvist in fourth. He caught David Malukas and accomplished an exciting move late within the occasion to take the place away. The maneuver into Flip 2 was among the finest racing motion all afternoon.
The reigning Indianapolis 500 champion was sporting a particular Nickelback livery this weekend, and saved it close to the entrance all day.
Rosenqvist is departing Meyer Shank Racing after this occasion on his option to Arrow McLaren, however gave his group a satisfying ship off.
David Malukas began in fifth and completed in fifth, finishing one other strong day behind the wheel.
His first season with Group Penske has held its share of frustration, however the younger driver continues to do his finest to comprehend that being dissatisfied the podiums and high 5 finishes is an effective downside to have.
Malukas ended the yr fifth within the factors, which is impressively the very best positioned Group Penske driver.
Christian Lundgaard was sixth throughout the road, using the undercut expertly within the first pit cease cycle to leap up from his eleventh beginning place.
He completed simply forward of Marcus Armstrong, who completed in seventh.
Tire troubles
Alex Palou wrapped up the championship final weekend, and was racing this weekend because the collection’ latest 5 time champion.
Maybe it was good there was nothing on the road for the Spaniard, as a result of he had dramatic grip points all afternoon.
Palou slid backwards from his entrance row beginning spot early, after which needed to full an additional pit cease to maintain the tires recent on his machine.
By the top of the occasion, he was operating in eighth place. The ultimate factors hole is 86, which will probably be recorded alongside his accomplishments within the file books.
Palou solely had a small problem throughout his many pit stops, however different drivers’ crews suffered larger points.
Pato O’Ward needed to sit and further very long time in his pit field whereas the entrance left wheel changer struggled to reattach the wheel nut.
The error stunted his probability of advancing, and he crossed the road in eleventh.
Marcus Armstrong additionally had left entrance wheel nut points, with the crew member struggling to get it seated again on the stud. Ultimately the issue was rectified, and he went on to complete seventh.
Christian Rasmussen had the longest pit cease of all of them, nonetheless, as compounding points saved him stationary for an additional ten seconds.
The crew behind the wall even pulled the wheel gun away prematurely, forcing the rear tire changer to complete attaching the entrance tire earlier than Armstrong may drive away.
Rasmussen completed in a disappointing twenty first place, persevering with his yr of up and down luck.
Lengthy inexperienced flag run
There was just one warning interval, which occurred midway by means of the opening lap.
Dennis Hauger and Sting Ray Robb have been nostril to tail going up the hill in the direction of Flip 6 when the rookie was tagged within the rear attenuator.
Robb appeared to lose monitor of how sluggish the sphere has to take turns when they’re all bunched up, and ran instantly into the again of Hauger.
The Dale Coyne Racing automotive spun into the gravel and impacted the tire boundaries with pressure, inflicting him to finish his day earlier than it actually obtained began.
Robb was given a ten second cease and maintain penalty, and remained in the back of the sphere all afternoon.
Each driver other than Hauger completed the race, and solely two have been off the lead lap.
Drivers now have an extended offseason to make modifications, put together for his or her subsequent problem, and attempt to provide you with a option to beat the unbeatable Alex Palou.
The following race on the schedule is from the streets of St. Petersburg on the primary weekend of March.
