Scott McLaughlin wins pole at Laguna Seca in season finale

By: Spencer Neff

September 5, 2026

In the final qualifying session of the 2026, NTT INDYCAR SERIES campaign, Scott McLaughlin bookended the season with pole positions.

He will start on pole for tomorrow’s Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laugna Seca, leading the 25-car field to green in Sunday’s 95-lap race on the 2.258-mile, 11-turn permanent road course in Salinas, California.

For the Team Penske, driver it is his third pole of 2026 (second in last three races) and the 14th of his career. He ties Tony Bettenhausen, Don Branson and Tom Sneva for 24th all-time. Team Penske also earns the 312th INDYCAR pole. Additionally, they earn their eighth pole at Laguna Seca and first since Gil de Ferran (2001).

Round 3-Fast Six

McLaughlin (1m09.1363-116.535 mph) posted the fastest lap as the six minutes expired in the Fast Six. Joining him on the front row is Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou, as the 2026 Series Champion looks for his third consecutive win and fourth in five years at this race in his Honda alongside McLaughlin’s Chevrolet.

Felix Rosenqvist concludes his time with Meyer Shank Racing from third on the grid with Ed Carpenter Racing’s Alexander Rossi in fourth.

Christian Lundgaard qualified fifth but will serve a six-place grid penalty for an engine change. McLaughlin’s teammate David Malukas concludes his first season with Penske from sixth on the grid.

Round 2-Fast 12

Palou (1m09.1496-116.513) finished the second round atop the lap chart, leading the half-dozen contenders for the pole. McLaughlin, Malukas, Lundgaard, Rossi and Rosenqvist would also join the Fast Six.

Ending the session below the cut line were Kyle Kirkwood, Marcus Ericsson, Kyffin Simpson, Marcus Armstrong, Louis Foster and Caio Collet, the latter being the highest-starting among the rookies with all three still vying for the 2026 Rookie of the Year honors.

Palou drives through the newly dedicated “Zanardi Corkscrew”. This weekend, his car will carry the famed “lightning bolt” run by CGR in the 1990s (Image By Joe Skibinski/INDYCAR)

Round 1

Group 1: Malukas (1m09.409-116.077mph) led the group ahead of McLaughlin, Kirkwood, Rossi, Foster and Simpson.

Below the cut line to advance were Pato O’Ward, Mick Schumacher, Scott Dixon, Rinus VeeKay, Santino Ferrucci and Romain Grosjean. They will start on the inside of rows 7-12.

Group 2: Palou (1m09.1398-116.513 mph) bested the field by more than a full tenth of a second- leading the six drivers from his group who advanced into Round 2. Joining him were Ericsson, Rosenqvist, Armstrong, Collet and Lundgaard.

Monterey, CA – 2026 MISSION FOODS GRAND PRIX OF MONTEREY – Monterey, CA (Photo by Travis Hinkle | IMS Photo)

Starting on the outside of rows 7-12 are Will Power, Nolan Siegel, Christian Rasmussen, Josef Newgarden, Graham Rahal and Dennis Hauger. Sting Ray Robb will start 25th.

Up Next

McLaughlin earned Chevrolet its 250th INDYCAR pole (Image By Chris Owens/INDYCAR)

Pit Assignments Spotter Guide

Here is the schedule for the remainder of the weekend 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

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 Owens/INDYCAR