By: Spencer Neff
September 3, 2026
Fresh off clinching his fourth consecutive INDYCAR Championship and fifth in six years, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou led the way during Friday afternoon’s opening practice at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for this weekend’s Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey, the season finale of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES campaign.
Palou, who has won the last two races from the pole on the 2.238-mile, 11-turn permanent road course in Salinas, California, notched a best lap of 1m09.8894.
Following Palou during the practice, which saw the split format (40-minute full session with a pair of 12-minute group sessions) would be Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist, who completes a three-year run at Meyer Shank Racing this weekend before returning to McLaren. Rosenqvist was .0913 of a second back of Palou.
Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward and Team Penske’s Scott Mclaughlin led all Chevrolet pwoetrain entries in third and fourth, with Palou’s teammate Kyffin Simpson rounding out the Top Five.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Mick Schumacher was best among the rookies in 15th.
Across the sessions, only spins by Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden in Turn 6 and CGR’s Scott Dixon in Turn 2 (Andretti Hairpin) as well as a light incident with the outside wall in Turn 9 by A.J. Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferrucci, halted the running.
Schumacher to join Meyer Shank in 2027
Meyer Shank Racing completed its full-time lineup for the 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES campaign.
Mick Schumacher returns for his sophomore in the series and will move to MSR after beginning his career with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
“I’m super excited to be working with everyone at Meyer Shank Racing and really excited to be joining such an ambitious team,” said Schumacher. “It’s going to be a special journey to start working with MSR. I am looking forward to what more I can learn from the team. They’ve had some really great success, and of course, going to an Indy 500-winning team is awesome.
“It will be great to start meeting everyone on the team and working with MSR’s partners. I’m really just excited to begin working toward 2027 together and really start thinking about how we can create a great partnership together.”
Schumacher’s best finish in the first 17 races has been eighth at Nashville, with a best start of fourth at Phoenix and Milwaukee (Race 2).
“We’re very excited to have Mick and ENVE join us next year,” said MSR co-owner Mike Shank. “He really impressed us in his first season of INDYCAR. It is not an easy series to come into and the competition is incredibly tight, but when you look at what he’s accomplished and the progress he’s made throughout the year, we see a lot of potential in him.
“He’s also shown tremendous pace on the ovals, which is a huge hurdle for any driver coming into INDYCAR without that experience. He’s adapted quickly, and we’re excited to see what he can do with another year of experience and with our group around him. And of course we’re excited to welcome ENVE onboard. The same values drive ENVE that drive MSR and we’re both aiming for victories in our own disciples. I think that it is a perfect fit for us to join together.”
Collet and Lundgaard Penalized
On Friday morning, the following statement was released:
“INDYCAR Officiating has announced six-position starting grid penalties for the entries of No. 4 A.J. Foyt Enterprises (Caio Collet) and No. 7 Arrow McLaren for unapproved engine changes following the two races at the Milwaukee Mile Sunday, Aug. 30.
The entries were in violation of:
Rule 16.1.2.3.2. A fifth (5th) Engine is eligible to earn Engine Manufacturer points and will be considered an Approved Engine Change-Out if a Full Season Entrant has completed the Full Season Entrant Engine Mileage with its first four (4) Engines. Otherwise, a fifth (5th) or more Engine does not earn Engine Manufacturer points and will be considered an Unapproved Engine Change-Out.
According to Rule 16.1.6.1.2., the penalty is a six-position starting grid penalty on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and will be served at the series’ next event, which is the Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Sunday, Sept. 6.”
Up Next
Pit Assignments Spotter Guide
Here is the schedule for tomorrow at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Stay with IndyCar1909 and our social media platforms with the latest on the Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
At-track schedule (all times local):
Saturday, Sept. 5
10:05-11:25 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 2 (40 minutes for all cars, followed by two groups for 12 minutes each), FS2 (Live)
1:35 p.m. – Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey NTT P1 Award qualifying (three rounds of knockout qualifying), FS2 (Live)
5:10-5:40 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES final practice, FS2 (Live)
Sunday, Sept. 6
11:30 a.m. – FOX on air
11:58 a.m. – Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey “Drivers, Start Your Engines”
12:05 p.m. – Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey (95 laps/212.61 miles), FOX (Live)
Header Image By Chris Jones/INDYCAR
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