Scott McLaughlin Ends Winless Streak at Laguna Seca

Scott McLaughlin and Team Penske end the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season by snapping a 35-race winless streak in the ‘Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey’ at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Starting from the pole, the 33-year old from Christchurch, New Zealand led 87 of the 95 laps on Sunday to score his eighth career victory in his 103rd start. 

“My little girl hasn’t seen me win yet and she finally has. Dad’s coming home with a trophy, baby. Let’s go.” McLaughlin said filled with emotion in Victory Lane.

“The Dex Imaging Chevy was unbelievable, these guys and girls at Team Penske have stood by me the whole time. We’re working hard to be better, but today was a big step in the right direction.”

The post race festivities continued as Alex Palou officially celebrated his fifth championship following the double-header in Milwaukee where he clinched the title.

The second place finisher in both the race and championship fight, Kyle Kirkwood, ends the campaign with his sixth podium of the season.

“We had an awesome race, we just played it super clean, super methodical,” Kirkwood said. “I wish I could’ve had a go at Scotty there at the end on better tires, but we knew who we were fighting and that was for the championship mostly, and it would’ve been hard to get around him regardless. We just played it safe there.”

The finale had one caution on the opening lap where Dale Coyne Racing and Rookie of the Year winner, Dennis Hauger, lost control in Turn 6 after contact from behind from Sting Ray Robb’s Chevrolet, ending the day for Hauger in the sand trap.

Alexander Rossi led the second most laps of the afternoon at just four and rounded out the podium for Ed Carpenter Racing’s No. 21 Chevrolet. Indianapolis 500 champion Felix Rosenqvist and McLaughlin’s teammate, David Malukas, rounded out the top-5.

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