The ultimate race of the 2026 season came about at Laguna Seca on Sunday, with a discipline of 25 IndyCar drivers seeking to make a press release that may final all offseason.
Dominating the race, Scott McLaughlin cruised to victory. He led 87 of the 95 laps, and accomplished celebratory donuts on the entrance straight after incomes his first win of the season.
Kyle Kirkwood completed second, securing second within the factors standings as effectively. Alexander Rossi rounded out the rostrum, making a press release after a making an attempt yr.
READ MORE: IndyCar Laguna Seca – Full Race Report
The previously-crowned champion Alex Palou struggled for grip within the finale, and drifted all the way down to eighth earlier than the race was via.
There was just one warning, which occurred on the primary lap. Sting Ray Robb bought into the again of Dennis Hauger, and the rookie was spun into the wall. Hauger nonetheless gained the Rookie of the Yr title based mostly on how others completed.
After a grueling again to again run to finish the season that lasted over a month, drivers now have a protracted season forward to get better. They are going to be again on monitor in early March in St. Petersburg.
| # | Driver | Time / Hole | Laps Led | Factors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scott McLaughlin | 1:59:29.6163 | 87 | 54 |
| 2 | Kyle Kirkwood | 1.3739 | — | 40 |
| 3 | Alexander Rossi | 2.8108 | 4 | 36 |
| 4 | Felix Rosenqvist | 5.2886 | 2 | 33 |
| 5 | David Malukas | 14.5880 | — | 30 |
| 6 | Christian Lundgaard | 16.5000 | — | 28 |
| 7 | Marcus Armstrong | 21.8125 | 2 | 27 |
| 8 | Alex Palou | 28.0442 | — | 24 |
| 9 | Marcus Ericsson | 40.2262 | — | 22 |
| 10 | Kyffin Simpson | 40.7676 | — | 20 |
| 11 | Pato O’Ward | 43.0208 | — | 19 |
| 12 | Santino Ferrucci | 43.7468 | — | 18 |
| 13 | Will Energy | 49.3535 | — | 17 |
| 14 | Louis Foster | 53.4054 | — | 16 |
| 15 | Josef Newgarden | 55.1028 | — | 15 |
| 16 | Rinus VeeKay | 55.7301 | — | 14 |
| 17 | Scott Dixon | 57.6243 | — | 13 |
| 18 | Romain Grosjean | 60.6920 | — | 12 |
| 19 | Graham Rahal | 64.6680 | — | 11 |
| 20 | Caio Collet | 68.1740 | — | 10 |
| 21 | Christian Rasmussen | 69.1270 | — | 9 |
| 22 | Mick Schumacher | 70.7710 | — | 8 |
| 23 | Sting Ray Robb | 1 lap | — | 7 |
| 24 | Nolan Siegel | 1 lap | — | 6 |
| 25 | Dennis Hauger | 95 laps | — | 5 |
