By: Spencer Neff
September 5, 2026
Practice 2 Results Combined Practice Results Qualifying Groups
Following a lengthy track cleanup due to a crash during Porsche Sprint Cup North America practice at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, California, second practice for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES was delayed and eventually shortened to a single 25-minute session.
Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin led the way after the session, posting a best lap of 1m10.3014 (114.804 mph) on the 2.258-mile, 11-turn permanent road course.
McLaughlin enters the 2026 season finale looking to snap a 35-race winless streak (2024 Milwaukee Race 2) before the end of the 18-race campaign.
Following McLaughlin’s Chevrolet was the Meyer Shank Racing Honda of Felix Rosenqvist, who finished .2419 of a second back.
Yesterday’s practice leader, Alex Palou was third as the Chip Ganassi Racing driver looks for his fourth win at the track in five years to go along with his fifth INDYCAR Championship, which he clinched on Sunday.
McLaughlin’s teammate David Malukas and Will Power of Andretti Global rounded out the Top Five. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Mick Schumacher was best among the rookies in sixth.
There were no major incidents during the shortened practice.
Daly signs with Dreyer and Reinbold for 2027 return; team confirms Honda switch
After the July 22 announcement of Dreyer and Reinbold Racing’s purchase of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s third charter, their planned return to the full-time grid in 2027 has now been formally announced.
On Saturday morning, the organization announced that Conor Daly, who has driven with the organization in two of the last three Indianapolis 500s, will return in 2027 as DRR makes their return after running part-time since 2013. Honda will become their engine supplier after using Chevrolet since the 2012 Indianapolis 500.
“Dreyer & Reinbold Racing is returning to full-time competition in 2027 with Honda engines, and Conor Daly is the driver we want leading that return,” said Derek Reinbold, DRR CEO.
“Conor has raced for us at Indianapolis, so we know how he prepares, how he works with engineers, and how much he gets out of a car. He has shown for years that he can win the Indianapolis 500, and our job is to give him a car that lets him do it. We are building a team that contends every weekend, and Conor is the driver we trust to carry that effort across the full season. An Indiana driver in an Indiana team’s car is exactly how we want to come back.”
DRR won their INDYCAR debut in 2000 at Walt Disney World Speedway with Robbie Buhl and has fielded a two-car effort at the Indianapolis 500 since 2022.
“I am extremely grateful to get back to full-time IndyCar racing with my friends at Dreyer and Reinbold Racing and Honda,” said Daly. “The faith that this group has shown in me is something that makes me want to work harder than ever before to deliver. We, as a team, will aim every day to make Dennis proud of the effort we put in to be competitive and continue the team’s legacy.”
Daly’s best career IndyCar finish is a second at Belle Isle in 2016 (Race 2) and won the pole at Iowa Speedway (Race 1) in 2020. At this year’s Indianapolis 500, Daly started a career-best eighth, led four laps and finished 12th.
Up Next
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
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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