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Alex Palou secures IndyCar title as Kyle Kirkwood finishes his season

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 31, 2026, 5:43 AM

Last updated Aug 31, 2026

Alex Palou secures IndyCar title as Kyle Kirkwood finishes his season

Summary

Alex Palou clinched the 2026 IndyCar championship after maintaining a substantial points lead throughout the season. Despite a late-season surge by Kyle Kirkwood, the deficit proved too large to overcome by the time the series reached Milwaukee. Kirkwood concluded his campaign following a successful performance at the Freedom 250 in Washington, D.C., where he led 128 of 147 laps to secure the victory. The 27-year-old driver entered the final stretch of the season 133 points behind Palou, eventually cutting the gap to 91. While the Milwaukee results prevented him from mounting a final challenge for the title, the season represents a career-high point for the Andretti Global driver. Kirkwood aims to build on this performance as he prepares for the upcoming season.

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By the Numbers

•Alex Palou wins the 2026 IndyCar championship
•Kyle Kirkwood won the Freedom 250 in Washington, D.C. earlier this season
•Kirkwood trailed Palou by 91 points heading into the Milwaukee race
•The 27-year-old Kirkwood led 128 of 147 laps during his Washington, D.C. victory

Latest Updates

5:43 AMYahoo Sports — Kyle Kirkwood Came Up Short. But America Has a New IndyCar Star.

What they're saying

"
The championship slipped away from Kyle Kirkwood at Milwaukee, but that shouldn’t overshadow what was an outstanding 2026 season for the American driver. Alex Palou was simply too far ahead for too long. Kirkwood entered the final stretch of the season 133 points behind Palou before his stunning Freedom 250 victory in Washington, D.C., cut…
— Yahoo Sports

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