IndyCar held the season finale race on Sunday, capping off the 2026 season with a customary trip to Laguna Seca.
The historic course is always a thrill for drivers and fans that come out to watch the action are always knowledgeable in all things motorsports.
Those fans the filled the hillsides and the paddock enjoyed fantastic weather and blue skies all day long.
READ MORE: IndyCar Laguna Seca – Full Race Results
Unfortunately, fans at home were maybe a little less thrilled with the event due to a relative lack of activity at the front of the field.
The lack of passing was not a problem for Scott McLaughlin, however, as the Kiwi started from pole and cruised to the win.
He did not pull far away from the competition, as a certain five-time champion Spaniard has done in the past, but grip and aerowash kept the gap over a second for most of the race.
The win was McLaughlin’s first of the season and his eighth of his IndyCar career. He secures sixth in the standings, and was ecstatic to be able to do donuts for the fans with his Chevy engine that is no longer needed.
Kyle Kirkwood started in sixth, but moved forward in the opening stint. His car was more impressive than all but one in the field, and he held second relatively easily.
By taking his sixth podium of the year, Kirkwood locked up second in the points standings.
Alexander Rossi kept Kirkwood in his sights all day and was third across the line, earning his first podium since joining Ed Carpenter Racing last year.
He admitted that the frustrating year has worn him and his team down at times, but hopes the podium will set them in the right direction for 2027.
Middle of the pack
Just off the podium was Felix Rosenqvist in fourth. He caught David Malukas and completed a thrilling pass late in the event to take the position away. The maneuver into Turn 2 was one of the best racing action all afternoon.
The reigning Indianapolis 500 champion was sporting a special Nickelback livery this weekend, and kept it near the front all day.
Rosenqvist is departing Meyer Shank Racing after this event on his way to Arrow McLaren, but gave his team a satisfying send off.
David Malukas started in fifth and finished in fifth, completing another solid day behind the wheel.
His first season with Team Penske has held its share of frustration, but the young driver continues to do his best to realize that being disappointed the podiums and top five finishes is a good problem to have.
Malukas ended the year fifth in the points, which is impressively the highest placed Team Penske driver.
Christian Lundgaard was sixth across the line, employing the undercut expertly in the first pit stop cycle to jump up from his 11th starting position.
He finished just ahead of Marcus Armstrong, who finished in seventh.
Tire troubles
Alex Palou wrapped up the championship last weekend, and was racing this weekend as the series’ newest five time champion.
Perhaps it was good there was nothing on the line for the Spaniard, because he had dramatic grip issues all afternoon.
Palou slid backwards from his front row starting spot early, and then had to complete an extra pit stop to keep the tires fresh on his machine.
By the end of the event, he was running in eighth position. The final points gap is 86, which will be recorded alongside his accomplishments in the record books.
Palou only had a small issue during his many pit stops, but other drivers’ crews suffered bigger issues.
Pato O’Ward had to sit and extra long time in his pit box while the front left wheel changer struggled to reattach the wheel nut.
The error stunted his chance of advancing, and he crossed the line in 11th.
Marcus Armstrong also had left front wheel nut issues, with the crew member struggling to get it seated back on the stud. Eventually the problem was rectified, and he went on to finish seventh.
Christian Rasmussen had the longest pit stop of them all, however, as compounding issues kept him stationary for an extra ten seconds.
The crew behind the wall even pulled the wheel gun away prematurely, forcing the rear tire changer to finish attaching the front tire before Armstrong could drive away.
Rasmussen finished in a disappointing 21st position, continuing his year of up and down luck.
Long green flag run
There was only one caution period, which happened halfway through the opening lap.
Dennis Hauger and Sting Ray Robb were nose to tail going up the hill towards Turn 6 when the rookie was tagged in the rear attenuator.
Robb appeared to lose track of how slow the field has to take turns when they are all bunched up, and ran directly into the back of Hauger.
The Dale Coyne Racing car spun into the gravel and impacted the tire barriers with force, causing him to end his day before it really got started.
Robb was given a 10 second stop and hold penalty, and remained at the back of the field all afternoon.
Every driver apart from Hauger finished the race, and only two were off the lead lap.
Drivers now have a long offseason to make changes, prepare for their next challenge, and try to come up with a way to beat the unbeatable Alex Palou.
The next race on the schedule is from the streets of St. Petersburg on the first weekend of March.
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