Scott McLaughlin secured a victory at the Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey on Sunday, concluding his 2026 IndyCar season with a win at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. McLaughlin, who started from the pole position, led 87 of the 95 laps to claim his first victory since September 1, 2024.
Following the race, Alex Palou was officially honored for his 2026 IndyCar series championship. Palou had clinched the title one week prior, marking his fourth consecutive championship and his fifth in six years. At 29 years old, Palou is the youngest driver in IndyCar history to achieve five season titles.
Palou finished the race in eighth place and concluded the season with 631 points, 86 points ahead of runner-up Kyle Kirkwood. During the trophy presentation, Palou credited his team at Chip Ganassi Racing and the performance of his No. 10 DHL Honda.
Kyle Kirkwood finished the Monterey race in second place, 1.3739 seconds behind McLaughlin. This result allowed Kirkwood to secure second place in the final season standings. Alexander Rossi, Felix Rosenqvist, and David Malukas completed the top five finishers at the event.
McLaughlin, 33, dedicated his win to his daughter, Lucy. He noted that the victory represented a significant step for Team Penske as they look toward future competition against Palou. The win at Laguna Seca serves as the final event of the 2026 IndyCar calendar.
Article and image source: newzealandstar.com
