It’s all been coming down to this, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is going racing one last time in 2026. This weekend, INDYCAR is paying a visit to the West Coast for the Mission Foods Grand Prix Of Monterey. The final race of the season at Laguna Seca presents drivers with a set of unique challenges and corners, making this one of the most challenging and entertaining tracks of the season.
Even though the championship has already been decided last weekend in Milwaukee, second place is still up for grabs. Álex Palou heads into Laguna Seca as a five-time INDYCAR champion but Christian Lundgaard, Kyle Kirkwood, Pato O’Ward and David Malukas are all still contenders for that second-place championship finish. There are 23 points separating the drivers.
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
The historic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca was first constructed in 1957 and has been a staple on the updated INDYCAR calendar since 2019. A 2.238-mile circuit complete with 11 turns awaits the drivers for a 95-lap race this Sunday. Laguna Seca is known for its Corkscrew, a five and a half story fall over a track distance of 450 feet and a blind apex.
The track also features a series of tight corners that place an emphasis on braking and precision. Laguna Seca’s layout will also force drivers to navigate between extreme downforce and straight-line speed. A combination of all of these things lead to multiple different strategies and setups to make for an interesting race.
The Corkscrew’s fame stems from a handful of iconic on-track moments. One of them being Alex Zanardi’s last-lap pass on Bryan Herta in 1996. This weekend, Laguna Seca will be honouring Zanardi. On the 30th anniversary of his overtake, the corner will be named after Zanardi to pay tribute to him following his passing in May of this year.
A Look Back At Last Year
During the 2025 Java House Grand Prix of Monterey fans saw Palou continue his dominance in the season when he won after starting from pole. Palou lead for 84 out of the 95 laps and managed to secure his third win at the circuit in four years. He’ll be looking to extend that record and go for the three-peat.
Runner-up at last year’s race was Lundgaard who seemed to be Palou’s biggest competitor on race day. The Arrow McLaren driver started seventh on the grid before making his way up to second. He’ll be looking to get a similar or even better result. Lundgaard currently sits second in the championship and will need to maximize on points this weekend to hold onto his position.
Coming in fourth during 2025’s race was O’Ward who is also fourth in the championship. There’s only four points that separate him from Lundgaard in the standings. It will be an extremely competitive weekend for the McLaren team as their drivers fight for that second place spot.
Schedule
The schedule for the Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey is as follows. Please note that all times are in CEST.
Entering Laguna Seca leaves everyone with a couple of questions. Who will take home the final win of the season? Which driver will get that second-place championship finish? This season has proven that truly anything is possible. Tune in this Sunday for the conclusion of the 2026 season.