Scott McLaughlin ended a two-year, 35-race win drought with victory within the IndyCar season finale at Laguna Seca.
After beginning on pole within the #3 Crew Penske Chevrolet, the 33-year-old New Zealander remained in management all through the 95-lap contest en path to a 1.3739s victory over Andretti International’s Kyle Kirkwood on the 11-turn, 2.238-mile pure terrain highway course.
ECR’s Alexander Rossi completed third for his first podium since 2024 (Laguna Seca). Felix Rosenqvist completed fourth in his remaining race for Meyer Shank Racing, forward of Crew Penske’s David Malukas in fifth.
On account of ending second on the day, Kirkwood additionally secured runner-up within the championship.
Talking after the race, McLaughlin made it clear that this win is a particular one past the apparent causes.
“Effectively, firstly, my little lady hasn’t seen me win but, and she or he lastly has,” McLaughlin, mentioned. “So, Dad’s coming dwelling with a trophy, child. Let’s go! Karly, I like you, babe. It has been arduous, I do know. The DEX Imaging Chevy was unbelievable. These guys and women on my staff, Crew Penske, have caught behind me the entire time.
“Congrats, Alex [Palou], on his fifth [championship]. We’re working arduous to be higher however as we speak was an enormous step in the suitable path, so… and I have been ready six years to do donuts. They sucked, however I used to be like, let’s go! I used to be actually pleased. We needed to be stable. That is what it is gonna take to win a championship. What an incredible warm-up we had. So, yeah, convey it on 2027.”
IndyCar additionally confirmed after the race that Dennis Hauger is 2026 IndyCar Rookie of the 12 months, regardless of a first-lap crash.
The Race
McLaughlin led the sphere to the inexperienced flag, however the warning got here out moments later as Dale Coyne Racing rookie Dennis Hauger was punted from behind by Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Sting Ray Robb in Flip 6. Robb was given a 10-second stop-and-hold penalty for avoidable contact consequently.
The restart got here on Lap 4, with McLaughlin getting barely sideways beneath energy earlier than pulling a niche on Palou.
By Lap 10, McLaughlin led Palou by 1.6479s, whereas Scott Dixon was the primary to come back to pit lane, swapping off the more durable major tires to softer alternates. ECR’s Christian Rasmussen got here within the subsequent lap.
A number of drivers started making their first pit stops, together with Andretti International’s Marcus Ericsson and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing rookie Mick Schumacher on lap 17. Palou pitted from second the following lap, together with Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward and Crew Penske’s David Malukas.
McLaughlin pitted from the lead on Lap 20, together with Andretti International’s Kyle Kirkwood and teammate Will Energy.
Rossi, who began on the more durable tires, assumed the race lead by Lap 21. He made his first pit cease on Lap 25, with the lead biking again to McLaughlin. Rossi returned fifth.
The highest 5 after the opening 30 laps had been McLaughlin, Palou, Kirkwood, Rossi, and Malukas.
Kirkwood handed Palou on the within at Flip 2 for second on lap 31, 4.3s behind McLaughlin. Rossi was in a position to take third from Palou moments later in Flip 3. On account of the sudden loss in rear grip, Palou pitted from fourth on the finish of the lap and switched off the more durable major tires to the softer alternate compound.
By Lap 35, McLaughlin led Kirkwood by 4.0303s. McLaughlin’s lead shrunk to 3s over Kirkwood on Lap 40, with Rossi staying shut at 3.8s again in third.
The highest three all pitted on Lap 44, handing the result in Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist. The Swede pitted the following lap.
McLaughlin cycled again to the lead by Lap 47, with Kirkwood 2.7s behind in second.
At Lap 50, McLaughlin’s hole widened to three.4637s over Kirkwood, with Rossi nonetheless in third at 4.4s again.
Kirkwood inched barely nearer over the following 10 laps, with McLaughlin’s lead right down to 3s by Lap 60.
With 30 laps to go, the highest 5 remained McLaughlin, Kirkwood, Rossi, Malukas, and Rosenqvist.
Kirkwood minimize McLaughlin’s lead right down to 1.6s with 27 laps to go.
The highest 5 all pitted on Lap 70, with McLaughlin holding on to his lead. Kirkwood, on a set of softer alternates, sat 1.5s behind.
By Lap 80, McLaughlin led Kirkwood by 1.5619s.
On Lap 85, Kirkwood light barely to 1.8993s from McLaughlin’s race-leading tempo.
With six laps to go, the one move for place was Rosenqvist pulling one by Malukas into Flip 2 to safe fourth.
Ultimately, McLaughlin remained untouchable clear to the end, forward of Kirkwood and Rossi.
1
3
95
3
2
27
95
1.374
3
3
20
95
1.437
3
4
60
95
2.478
3
5
12
95
9.299
3
6
7
95
1.912
3
7
66
95
5.313
3
8
10
95
6.232
4
9
28
95
12.182
3
10
8
95
0.541
3
11
5
95
2.253
3
12
14
95
0.726
3
13
26
95
5.607
3
14
L. Foster Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
45
95
4.052
3
15
2
95
1.697
5
16
76
95
0.627
4
17
9
95
1.894
4
18
18
95
3.068
3
19
15
95
3.976
4
20
4
95
3.506
3
21
C. Rasmussen Ed Carpenter Racing
21
95
0.954
4
22
47
95
1.644
4
23
R. Robb Sting Juncos Hollinger Racing
77
94
5
24
N. Siegel Arrow McLaren
6
94
2.028
4
25
19
0
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