INDYCAR: MCLAUGHLIN ENDS THE SEASON ON TOP AT LAGUNA SECA
- Cavalieri Garage Magazine
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
Scott McLaughlin ended the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season in the best possible way, dominating the season finale at Laguna Seca. The Team Penske driver converted pole position into a commanding victory at WeatherTech Raceway, securing the eighth win of his IndyCar career and putting a positive ending on what had otherwise been a challenging season.
The former Australian Supercars champion controlled the race virtually from start to finish in an event featuring very few interruptions. The only significant caution came in the opening stages following contact between Dennis Hauger and Sting Ray Robb, leaving the rest of the race largely defined by outright pace and strategic execution.
McLaughlin gave his rivals few opportunities to challenge, taking the checkered flag ahead of Kyle Kirkwood in the No. 27 Andretti entry and Alexander Rossi, who completed the podium for Ed Carpenter Racing in the No. 20. For the Penske driver, the victory provided an important measure of redemption after a season that had fallen short of expectations.
It was a more difficult afternoon for Alex Palou, who arrived in California having already mathematically secured his fifth IndyCar championship at the previous event. Chip Ganassi Racing attempted an alternative strategy with the No. 10 Honda, but the gamble failed to produce the desired result: the five-time champion could only manage an eighth-place finish, never becoming a serious factor in the battle for the podium.
Felix Rosenqvist, meanwhile, closed his chapter with Meyer Shank Racing with a strong fourth-place result. The reigning Indianapolis 500 winner finished ahead of David Malukas in the No. 12 Penske, Christian Lundgaard in the No. 7 McLaren, and teammate Marcus Armstrong in the No. 66.
Laguna Seca therefore brings the 2026 IndyCar season to an official close, giving McLaughlin the final victory of the year and Palou another championship to add to his remarkable résumé.
A long winter break now awaits the NTT IndyCar Series as the paddock waits for the complete 2027 schedule to be revealed. The opening portion of next season is already known, and the championship will once again begin on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, on Sunday, March 7.
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