Scott McLaughlin captures Grand Prix of Monterey victory at Laguna Seca
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 8, 2026, 4:30 PM
Last updated Sep 8, 2026
Scott McLaughlin won the IndyCar season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, finishing 1.3739 seconds ahead of Kyle Kirkwood. The Team Penske driver secured his eighth career series victory by leading 87 of the 95 laps. This result helped McLaughlin secure sixth in the final championship standings. Despite already clinching the 2026 title, Alex Palou finished eighth after a four-stop strategy led to significant tire degradation. Alexander Rossi finished third, providing Ed Carpenter Racing with its first road course podium since 2022. The event featured 160 total passes, including 146 for position, with only one caution period occurring during the race. While McLaughlin solidified his position for the offseason, other competitors including Louis Foster struggled, with the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver finishing 14th after qualifying ninth.
- •Scott McLaughlin led 87 of 95 laps to win the Grand Prix of Monterey.
- •Kyle Kirkwood secured second place, marking his career-best finish on a road course.
- •Alexander Rossi took third place to record Ed Carpenter Racing's second podium of the year.
- •Alex Palou finished eighth after an aggressive four-stop strategy resulted in tire degradation.
- •Santino Ferrucci gained a race-high nine positions to finish 12th.
- 4:30 PMYahoo Sports — Winners and losers from the IndyCar season finale at Laguna Seca
- 4:30 PMMotorsport.com — Winners and losers from the IndyCar season finale at Laguna Seca
"The checkered flag flew on the 2026 season in the IndyCar Series with the Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The season finale at the iconic 2.238-mile, 11-turn natural terrain road course was a walkoff by Scott McLaughlin, who coasted to his first win since 2024 (Milwaukee, Race 2). The New Zealander ended up finishing an uncontested 1.3739s ahead of Andretti Global’s ...Keep reading
"Turn the lights off, the party is officially over...
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 8, 2026, 4:30 PMWinners and losers from the IndyCar season finale at Laguna Seca
Turn the lights off, the party is officially over...
- Motorsport.comSep 8, 2026, 4:30 PMWinners and losers from the IndyCar season finale at Laguna Seca
The checkered flag flew on the 2026 season in the IndyCar Series with the Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The season finale at the iconic 2.238-mile, 11-turn natural terrain road course was a walkoff by Scott McLaughlin, who coasted to his first win since 2024 (Milwaukee, Race 2). The New Zealander ended up finishing an uncontested 1.3739s ahead of Andretti Global’s ...Keep reading
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