Winners and losers from the IndyCar season finale at Laguna Seca

The 2026 season finale of the IndyCar Series at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca saw Scott McLaughlin claim his first win since 2024, finishing an uncontested 1.3739 seconds ahead of Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Global. This win marked McLaughlin's eighth career IndyCar victory and helped solidify his sixth-place standing in the championship standings.

Alexander Rossi of Ed Carpenter Racing delivered his finest drive of the season, securing a third-place finish. Rossi's podium was the team's first since 2022 and marked a significant boost for the organization on a road course.

Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing, despite being the defending champion, finished eighth after opting for an early four-stop strategy that backfired due to heavy tire degradation. Palou's average finish at Laguna Seca dropped from 1.6 to 2.7, the lowest in five previous starts at the track.

Louis Foster of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing fell to 14th after starting ninth. Foster's performance was uncompetitive, with him mostly losing time on out-laps after pitting.

Santino Ferrucci of A.J. Foyt Enterprises had a quiet but strong drive, turning a 21st-place starting grid position into a 12th-place finish. Ferrucci's performance was particularly notable considering his future at AJ Foyt Racing was in question.

Sting Ray Robb and Nolan Siegel of Juncos Hollinger Racing and Arrow McLaren, respectively, both suffered disappointing finishes. Robb triggered the only full-course caution and ended up 23rd after triggering a contact with Dennis Hauger. Siegel was mired mid-pack and ended the race in a 24th-place finish following an off-track excursion.