IndyCar Season Finale Pole
Scott McLaughlin secures pole position for the IndyCar season finale at Laguna Seca.
Anonymous
Key Points
1
McLaughlin’s pole lap averaged 116.535 mph, and Sunday’s finale is scheduled as a 95-lap race beginning at noon Pacific time.
2
Pato O’Ward was eliminated in the first qualifying round and will start 13th, while Josef Newgarden was also knocked out in that round and will start from the 10th row.
3
McLaughlin said his final lap was not his best but was sufficient for pole, adding that his Chevrolet had shown “almost effortless speed” over the preceding days and that he hoped to convert it into a victory.
4
Mick Schumacher finished second in final practice, ahead of McLaughlin, in what was his last practice session as a Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver and his final practice of his rookie season.
Scott McLaughlin secured pole position for the 2026 IndyCar season finale at Laguna Seca with a lap of 1:09.1363, edging newly crowned champion Álex Palou by just 0.0177 seconds. Motorsport.com reported that McLaughlin's pole marked Chevrolet's 250th series pole and set him up for a chance at his first win since 2024. The race begins Sunday at noon Pacific time and runs 95 laps.
McLaughlin's qualifying lap averaged 116.535 mph despite what he called an imperfect final attempt. Road and Track noted that McLaughlin said his Chevrolet showed "almost effortless speed" throughout the weekend and he hoped to convert that into victory. Behind him, Felix Rosenqvist qualified third after leading final practice, while Alexander Rossi took fourth in his strongest qualifying effort of the season.
Penalty Reshuffles Grid After Qualifying
Christian Lundgaard qualified fifth but faces a six-place engine-change penalty that drops him to 11th on the grid. Racer reported that this penalty promotion moves David Malukas and several others ahead of Lundgaard. The shuffle gives multiple drivers a chance to salvage difficult seasons with a strong result in the finale.
Early Eliminations Push O'Ward and Newgarden Back
Pato O'Ward failed to advance from the first qualifying round and will start 13th. Josef Newgarden also bowed out early, earning a spot from the 10th row. Both drivers will have their work cut out for them climbing through the field on Sunday.
Dixon Prepares for Final Chip Ganassi Racing Start
Scott Dixon experienced a spin during practice but recovered and qualified for the race, starting 17th. This will mark his final race for Chip Ganassi Racing after a storied partnership. Frontstretch noted that Dixon will aim to finish on a positive note in his final outing with the legendary team.
McLaughlin Eyes Victory After Long Drought
McLaughlin has gone 35 races without a win over two years, making Sunday's race crucial for his momentum heading into 2027. Road and Track reported McLaughlin won the Laguna Seca finale, ending his winless streak with his first victory of the season. Rossi, Malukas and others also seek strong finishes to end disappointing campaigns on a high note.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
15
Articles
6
Reach
21
Topics
A
AnonymousAuthor
