IndyCar – The Apex

A detailed recap of the #MissionFoodsGP closes out the final Race Report of 2026. Next up for #IndyCar is the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 7, 2027. www.theapex.racing/2026/09/20...

Race results, passing analysis and post-race analysis have been added to the #MissionFoodsGP Race Report. #IndyCar www.theapex.racing/2026/09/20...

Despite not completing a lap, Dennis Hauger topped the Rookie of the Year standings with 228 points, followed by Mick Schumacher with 213 and Caio Collet with 203. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Alexander Rossi finished third, his 31st career podium and first top-three finish for ECR. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Kyle Kirkwood finished in the second position and secured second in the standings, 86 points behind champion Alex Palou. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Scott McLaughlin wins the 2026 Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey, his first victory of the season and the eighth win of his #IndyCar career. His last win was Race 2 at Milwaukee in 2024, 36 starts ago. #MissionFoodsGP

Scott McLaughlin takes the white flag with a 2.1371-second advantage over Kyle Kirkwood. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Lap 90 of 95: 1. McLaughlin 2. Kirkwood 3. Rossi 4. Rosenqvist 5. Malukas 6. Lundgaard 7. Armstrong 8. Palou 9. Ericsson 10. Simpson #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Lap 80 of 95: 1. McLaughlin 2. Kirkwood (-1.6s) 3. Rossi (-3.1s) 4. Malukas (-4.0s) 5. Rosenqvist (-8.7s) #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Scott McLaughlin pits from the lead on Lap 70 along with Kyle Kirkwood, Alexander Rossi and Felix Rosenqvist. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Points as they run on Lap 65 of 95: 1. Palou 627 2. Kirkwood 545 3. Lundgaard 535 4. O'Ward 522 5. Malukas 516 #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Lap 60 of 95: 1. McLaughlin 2. Kirkwood (-3.1s) 3. Rossi (-5.0s) 4. Malukas (-8.3s) 5. Rosenqvist (-9.9s) #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Halfway: 1. McLaughlin 2. Kirkwood 3. Rossi 4. Ferrucci 5. Malukas 6. Rosenqvist 7. Collet 8. Lundgaard 9. Dixon 10. Newgarden #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Felix Rosenqvist pits from the lead on Lap 45. The new race leader is Marcus Armstrong. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Scott McLaughlin pits from the lead on Lap 44 with Kyle Kirkwood and Alexander Rossi. The new race leader is Felix Rosenqvist. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Lap 40 of 95: 1. McLaughlin 2. Kirkwood (-3.2s) 3. Rossi (-4.2s) 4. Malukas (-8.3s) 5. Rosenqvist (-9.2s) #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Following a pit stop for Alex Palou on Lap 31, Scott McLaughlin leads Kyle Kirkwood by 4.3 seconds on Lap 33. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Kyle Kirkwood passes Alex Palou for the second position on Lap 31. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Lap 26 of 95, after all active cars have pitted at least once: 1. McLaughlin 2. Palou 3. Kirkwood 4. Malukas 5. Rossi 6. Rosenqvist 7. Dixon 8. Armstrong 9. Lundgaard 10. Simpson #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Alexander Rossi pits from the lead on Lap 25. The new race leader is Scott McLaughlin. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Lap 23 of 95: 1. Rossi 2. Collet (-11.5s) 3. Ferrucci (-15.0s) 4. McLaughlin (-17.8s) 5. Palou (-19.0s) #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

With green-flag pit stops underway, Alexander Rossi leads on Lap 22. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Alex Palou pits from the second position on Lap 18. Pato O'Ward and David Malukas also pit. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Lap 15 of 95: 1. McLaughlin 2. Palou (-2.9s) 3. Kirkwood (-4.3s) 4. Rosenqvist (-5.5s) 5. Rossi (-7.3s) #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Lap 5 of 95: 1. McLaughlin 2. Palou (-0.6s) 3. Kirkwood (-1.4s) 4. Rosenqvist (-2.4s) 5. Rossi (-2.9s) #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Back to green at the end of Lap 4 with Scott McLaughlin leading Alex Palou. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

At noon local time, the ambient temperature at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca was 67 degrees with 51% relative humidity and sunny skies. The track temperature was 107.7 degrees according to Firestone engineers. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Today's race is 95 laps on the 2.238-mile WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca totaling 212.61 miles. Pole sitter Scott McLaughlin gridded drivers' left. The pit road speed is 45 mph. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Green flag at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca! #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

The command has been given and engines are fired at Laguna Seca. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

The official starting lineup and tire designation for today's race has been added to the Entrant Facts section of the #MissionFoodsGP Race Report. #IndyCar www.theapex.racing/2026/09/20...

The #MissionFoodsGP Race Report has been updated with final practice results and a detailed session recap. Next up for #IndyCar is 95 laps of racing. The green flag is expected at 12:05 p.m. PT / 3:05 p.m. ET with coverage beginning on FOX at 2:30 p.m. ET. www.theapex.racing/2026/09/20...

Final practice top 10: 1. Rosenqvist 1:10.4275 2. Schumacher 3. McLaughlin 4. Dixon 5. Kirkwood 6. Collet 7. Newgarden 8. Lundgaard 9. Palou 10. Rossi #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Checkered flag for final practice. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

With two minutes remaining, Felix Rosenqvist tops final practice at 1:10.4275. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Final practice is back to green with 22 minutes remaining. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Red flag for Sting Ray Robb who made contact with the barrier in Turn 10. Robb climbed from his car without assistance from the AMR INDYCAR Safety Team. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Final practice is green at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The session is 30 minutes in duration. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

A detailed qualifying recap has been added to the #MissionFoodsGP Race Report. #IndyCar www.theapex.racing/2026/09/20...

Complete qualifying results have been added to the #MissionFoodsGP Race Report. #IndyCar www.theapex.racing/2026/09/20...

Firestone Fast Six results: 1. McLaughlin 1:09.1363 2. Palou 1:09.1540 3. Rosenqvist 1:09.1931 4. Rossi 1:09.3247 5. Lundgaard 1:10.2227 6. Malukas 1:12.8461 #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Scott McLaughlin wins the NTT P1 Award for the 2026 Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey, his third pole of the season and the 14th pole of his #IndyCar career. #MissionFoodsGP

Alex Palou goes to the top of the Firestone Fast Six with a 1:09.1540. #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar

Halfway through the Firestone Fast Six: 1. Rossi 1:10.6585 2. McLaughlin 3. Malukas 4. Palou 5. Rosenqvist 6. Lundgaard #MissionFoodsGP #IndyCar