The 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season is culminating at Laguna Seca, with Team Penske's Scott McLaughlin having achieved his inaugural pole position of the year. This crucial achievement places him at the forefront for the Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey, alongside Alex Palou. The starting grid features several prominent names like Mick Schumacher, Scott Dixon, and Josef Newgarden positioned unexpectedly far back, promising an engaging and unpredictable final race of the season. This event marks the definitive close of the IndyCar championship.
IndyCar Grand Finale: Laguna Seca Starting Grid Unveiled
The highly anticipated NTT IndyCar Series finale at Laguna Seca, the 2026 Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey, is set to commence with Team Penske's Scott McLaughlin leading the pack from pole position. This marks McLaughlin's first pole of the 2026 season, a significant achievement as the season draws to a close. Joining him on the coveted front row for Sunday afternoon's thrilling event will be Alex Palou.
The second row of the grid will feature Felix Rosenqvist and Alexander Rossi, poised to challenge the front-runners. A notable aspect of the qualifying results is the less-than-ideal starting positions for several prominent drivers. Mick Schumacher, Scott Dixon, Christian Rasmussen, Rinus VeeKay, and Josef Newgarden all qualified in 15th place or lower, adding an intriguing element of strategy and potential overtakes to the final race of the campaign. The event on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at 1:30 PM UTC, promises a dramatic conclusion to the IndyCar season.
The complete starting lineup for the Laguna Seca race is as follows:
1. No. 3 Scott McLaughlin
2. No. 10 Alex Palou
3. No. 60 Felix Rosenqvist
4. No. 20 Alexander Rossi
5. No. 7 Christian Lundgaard
6. No. 12 David Malukas
7. No. 27 Kyle Kirkwood
8. No. 28 Marcus Ericsson
9. No. 8 Kyffin Simpson
10. No. 66 Marcus Armstrong
11. No. 45 Louis Foster
12. No. 4 Caio Collet
13. No. 5 Pato O'Ward
14. No. 26 Will Power
15. No. 47 Mick Schumacher
16. No. 6 Nolan Siegel
17. No. 9 Scott Dixon
18. No. 21 Christian Rasmussen
19. No. 76 Rinus VeeKay
20. No. 2 Josef Newgarden
21. No. 14 Santino Ferrucci
22. No. 15 Graham Rahal
23. No. 18 Romain Grosjean
24. No. 19 Dennis Hauger
25. No. 77 Sting Ray Robb
The Laguna Seca finale is shaping up to be an enthralling spectacle. The contrasting starting positions of top drivers, with McLaughlin and Palou leading the charge and several others facing a challenging climb from the mid-pack, highlight the unpredictable nature of IndyCar racing. Fans can anticipate a high-stakes battle for supremacy as the drivers push their limits in pursuit of victory and a strong finish to their season.
