By: Spencer Neff

September 6, 2026

2026 Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey Results

After narrowly besting five-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion Alex Palou in qualifying from the pole, Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin dominated Sunday’s Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

In total, McLaughlin led 87 of 95 laps, including the last 49 on the 2.258-mile, 11-turn permanent road course in Salinas, California.

McLaughlin’s victory in the 2026 finale gives him eight in his career and his first victory since Milwaukee in 2024 (Race 2), ending a streak of 35 races without a victory.

McLaughlin becomes the 57th driver with at least eight INDYCAR victories, tying Alexander Rossi, Buddy Lazier, Bruno Junqueira, Rex Mays, Louis Meyer and Eddie Sachs.

The 2023 Laguna Seca runner-up also gives Team Penske their 312th INDYCAR victory and third of 2026 as he finishes the year sixth in points.

Finishing 1.3739 seconds back of McLaughlin was Kyle Kirkwood, as the Andretti Global driver clinches a career-best runner-up in the points standing behind Palou.

Kirkwood held off Christian Lundgaard and Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren by 10 and 23 points respectively.

Rounding out the podium for Chevrolet after Kirkwood’s Honda was Ed Carpenter Racing’s Alexander Rossi, who earned his first podium since Laguna Seca in 2024, 43 races ago.

Felix Rosenqvist concludes his time with Meyer Shank Racing in fourth before he returns to Arrow McLaren in 2027. David Malukas capped off his first season as Mclaughlin’s teammate at Penske with a fifth-place finish, matching his final spot in the standings.

After starting in second, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou was unable to make a four-pit stop strategy work and would finish his fifth championship and four-peat eighth, falling short of a third consecutive win at Laguna Seca.

CGR also celebrated their record-breaking 18th INDYCAR Championship, all within the last 31 seasons across CART/Champcar and IRL/INDYCAR.

A.J. Foyt Racing’s Caio Collet finished 20th, best among the rookies in the 18th and final race of the season. Teammate Santino Ferrucci improved a race-high nine spots to finish 12th.

Recap

In the back of the field, Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Sting Ray Robb made contact in Turn 6 with Dennis Hauger, sending the Dale Coyne Racing driver into the outside tire barrier of Turn 6 and ending his first INDYCAR season in 25th.

Hauger did maintain his lead and was crowned Rookie of the Year for the 2026 season, as well as maintaining 22nd in points, enough to earn his team $1.65 million as part of the “Leaders Circle” fund.

Robb would be assessed a stop-and-go penalty for avoidable contact due to the incident. After the Lap 4 restart, McLaughlin continued to lead and made his first stop at Lap 20. Palou opted for a second run on used alternate Firestone tires while many of the frontrunners opted for primary tires.

After starting fourth as the first driver opting for the primary tires, Rossi would make the “overcut” work and stayed out for the opening 25 laps. Rossi would keep third after making his initial stop as the leaders held serve at the front. Track position would prove to be as paramount as ever at Laguna Seca.

Rosenqvist grabbed fourth after battling late with Malukas. Up front, McLaughlin held off Kirkwood to end the 2026 season with a long-awaited victory.

A single caution spanning four laps would give the race a final average speed of 106.756 mph. The lead changed hands six times between a quartet of drivers.

Up Next

The 2026 season has drawn to a close. Stay with IndyCar1909.com and our social media for the latest on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, including offseason moves, preseason testing at Phoenix Raceway (February 22-23) and testing of the IR-28.

The 2027 season begins on March 1 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.