McLaughlin wins the finale — his first of the season
Scott McLaughlin closed out the 2026 IndyCar season the way he'd started the weekend, converting pole position into a lights-to-flag victory at the Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey — his only win of the entire season, saved for the very last of 2026's 18 rounds. Alex Palou finished second, with runner-up-in-the-championship hopeful Kyle Kirkwood completing the podium in third after starting sixth.
It capped a season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca that had far less riding on the outcome than most: as our finale preview laid out, the championship itself had been decided weeks earlier. What remained was a genuinely tight fight for second in the final standings, and that's exactly where Monterey delivered its drama.
Palou's title was already won
Alex Palou arrived at Laguna Seca already confirmed as 2026 champion, having wrapped up his fourth consecutive title — and fifth in six years — with points to spare after the Milwaukee doubleheader two weeks earlier. Our full look at his four-peat covers just how dominant that run has been. Palou had actually won this specific race the previous two years, and three of the past four, but had to settle for second behind McLaughlin this time — a minor footnote on a season he'd already secured.
The battle for second is settled
The real jeopardy at Monterey belonged to three drivers separated by just four points heading into the race: Christian Lundgaard led Kyle Kirkwood by 2 and Pato O'Ward by 4, as detailed in our battle for second preview. All three needed a strong final result, and only one of them got it.
Kirkwood delivered, finishing third from sixth on the grid — worth 35 points on IndyCar's scoring table. O'Ward brought his Arrow McLaren home tenth for 20 points. Lundgaard, who started 11th after an engine-change grid penalty, could only manage 12th, outside the top 10 and worth just the 5-point guarantee every entrant receives for taking the green flag. The math flips the pre-race order entirely: Kirkwood's Monterey alone was worth 30 points more than Lundgaard's, comfortably enough to erase his 2-point deficit and then some.
The finale also closed out Felix Rosenqvist's tenure at Meyer Shank Racing with a strong fourth-place run, and quietly ended Scott Dixon's long stint at Chip Ganassi Racing in 23rd — a low-key finish to one of the sport's most decorated partnerships.
The final 2026 standings
Kyle Kirkwood's Monterey result moves him into second in the final 2026 championship standings, with Pato O'Ward third and Christian Lundgaard dropping to fourth after leading that fight coming into the last race. See our IndyCar category page for the complete final top-order table.
What's next
The 2026 season is now complete, with the offseason turning to 2027 lineup news — Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti's move into ownership roles at Legacy Motor Club, and Mick Schumacher's signing at Meyer Shank Racing among the storylines already in motion. For how IndyCar's points actually add up race to race, see our guide to IndyCar's scoring system.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the last IndyCar race of the 2026 season?
Scott McLaughlin won the Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey at Laguna Seca from pole position, his only win of the 2026 season. Alex Palou finished second and Kyle Kirkwood third.
Had Alex Palou already clinched the 2026 IndyCar championship before Laguna Seca?
Yes. Palou secured his fourth consecutive title, and fifth in six years, with points to spare after the Milwaukee doubleheader two weeks before the season finale.
Who finished second in the final 2026 IndyCar standings?
Kyle Kirkwood, after a third-place finish at the Laguna Seca finale overtook Christian Lundgaard, who had led the runner-up battle by 2 points heading into the race but finished 12th.
How close was the battle for second in the IndyCar standings?
Christian Lundgaard, Kyle Kirkwood and Pato O'Ward were separated by just 4 points heading into the season finale, with Lundgaard holding the position by 2 points over Kirkwood.
How many IndyCar championships has Alex Palou won?
Five, including four consecutive titles from 2023 through 2026.
Sources
Pippa has followed open-wheel racing for 12 years, from Formula 1's turbo-hybrid era to IndyCar's short ovals, and has watched competitive sim racing grow from a niche hobby into a genuine motorsport discipline in its own right. She covers circuit and open-wheel racing, touring cars and esports for CNMOTOS.
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