By: Spencer Neff
September 10, 2023

2023 Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Results

Following WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca’s first repave in 15 years, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES paddock was expecting a chaotic Firestone Grand Prix. During the 2023 finale on the 2.238-mile, 11-turn permanent road course in Salinas, California, the 27-car field saw just that.

After an engine change penalty relegated him from fifth to 11th, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon would overcome an early penalty to win the 95-lap race.

It is Dixon’s third win of 2023-all within the last four races- and the 56th of his career. His win marks just the fourth time in 26 races at Laguna Seca the winner has started outside the Top 3.

The six-time INDYCAR Champion also wins at Laguna Seca for the first time in his career. Previously, his best effort in five starts was in 2019, where he started second and finished third. Like 2022, a Chip Ganassi Racing driver won from 11th on the grid.

Finishing second, 7.318 seconds behind his countryman, Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin secured third in the championship standings, making him the Top Chevrolet entry in the race and of 2023. Arrow Mclaren’s Pato O’Ward would finish ninth, enough to keep him fourth in the standings.

After clinching the Championship by winning last week in Portland, Dixon’s teammate Alex Palou finished a dominant season with a third-place effort. While his 16-year win streak ended, 2022 Champion Will power ended the season fourth. Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Callum Ilott equaled his best career finish in fifth.

Marcus Armstrong brought home more hardware for CGR, securing Rookie of the Year honors with an eighth-place effort. The Christchurch, New Zealand native bested Juncos Hollinger’s Agustin Canapino. In 2024, Armstrong returns and will contest the full season after running only the road and street courses in 2023.

While the eight cautions tied the 2001 record, the 35 caution laps bested the 2001 mark of 29.

Race Recap

The fresh asphalt proved treacherous from the start. On the first lap, Christian Lundgaard snapped loose in Turn 2, making contact with Scott McLaughlin.

Further back. Juri Vips collided with RLLR teammate Graham Rahal and Josef Newgarden. In between Turns 2 and 3, Dixon made contact with Rinus VeeKay and was later given a penalty for avoidable contact. The first caution of the afternoon was brought out following the incidents.

On Lap 7, Palou took the fight to Rosenqvist, making contact in Turn 11 to usurp the lead with Power taking second from the pole winner.

A lap later, Newgarden’s woes continued as he spun in Turn 4, prompting the second caution of the afternoon. He finished 21st and fell to fifth in the championship standings.

During the Lap 12 restart, Rosenqvist muscled his way around Power for second, with O’Ward following his teammate.

While his teammate continued on a torrid pace, Dixon made two early pit stops, including the penalty.

During the first cycle of green flag pit stops, Ericsson and Rosenqvist made contact in Turn 2, leaving the former stalled. In Turn 3, Rosenqvist would spin onto the gravel trap, necessitating a third caution of the afternoon. In his final race with Arrow McLaren, Rosenqvist ended the day in 19th.

On the Lap 37 restart, the middle of the field stacked up in Turn 11, resulting in a spin for A.J. Foyt Racing’s Benjamin Pedersen. Teammate Santino Ferrucci went off course in Turn 1 after contact with McLaughlin and Armstrong but the No. 14 gathered it up and continued on. With Pedersen’s car stalled, the fourth caution of the day was thrown.

As the front-runners began to commit to a two-stop strategy to end the day compared to one stop for those further back, the caution wa brought out for the fifth time. In Turn 3,Andretti Autosport’s Devlin DeFrancesco collided with Dale Coyne Racing with HMD Motorsports’ David Malukas, sending the sophomore drivers spinning into the gravel.

The Lap 63 restart provided another dose of carnage, with Meyer Shank Racing’s Tom Blomqvist and Ferrucci involved as the caution flew for the sixth time. Lap 65 provided more of the same as Ericsson and teammate Marcus Armstrong got the worst of a multi-car pileup in Turn 11.

During the Lap 74 restart, Grosjean made a daring move for the lead, passing O’Ward between Turns 1 and 2.

In Turn 3, Castroneves made contact, sending Colton Herta into the Turn 3 gravel and prompting a record-tying eighth caution. O’Ward and Grosjean were forced to pit, handing the lead to Dixon.

On Lap 79, Dixon would restart with the lead over McLaughlin and did not look back en route to another victory. The race featured six lead changes among six drivers

Up Next

While the 2023 Season has drawn to a close, there are still many questions left unanswered for the upcoming season.

As the schedule is released and further driver announcements are made, stay with indyCar1909 for all the latest on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Thank You for joining us throughout 2023.

Header Image By Chris Jones/INDYCAR