– The season finale of the IndyCar series is approaching. This weekend, the race will take place at Laguna Seca Raceway near Monterey in the US state of California. It is the track that has often been the venue for the final race of an IndyCar season in recent years and decades.
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Laguna Seca was, among other things, the site of the season finale in the 1996 CART season. Back then, the memorable overtaking maneuver by Alex Zanardi against Bryan Herta in the last lap for the race win took place. The maneuver, known as “The Pass” in IndyCar history, happened in the Corkscrew section.
Two tributes to Alex Zanardi
This year, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary, Zanardi and his “The Pass” are being commemorated in two ways. On Friday, about two hours before the start of the first free practice, a ceremony will take place in the Corkscrew section, where this legendary track section will be renamed “Zanardi Corkscrew”.
The second tribute to Zanardi comes from Chip Ganassi Racing, the former employer of the unforgettable Italian. Current Ganassi star Alex Palou secured the 2026 IndyCar title a few days ago in Milwaukee ahead of time. For the season finale, he will race with a special design. With the yellow lightning bolt on a red background near the front suspension, Palou’s Ganassi car uniquely recalls the era in which Zanardi was successful with this design.
For Alex Palou, the 29-year-old Spaniard, the title won last weekend in Milwaukee is already his fifth IndyCar title in six years and his fourth in a row. The title in the 2026 IndyCar engine championship has also already been decided. Honda won it ahead of Chevrolet last weekend as well.
Decisions in Rookie standings, Leaders Circle, and more
It is still open who will be the top-scoring rookie in 2026. All three – Dennis Hauger, Mick Schumacher, Caio Collet – still have chances, with Hauger having the greatest odds. Hauger and Collet know Laguna Seca from the 2025 Indy-NXT season. Schumacher knows the Californian rollercoaster track from an IndyCar test day he completed in July 2026.
Driving for Dale Coyne Racing, Dennis Hauger, the 2025 Indy-NXT champion, leads the 2026 IndyCar rookie standings with one race to go. He has an 18-point lead over Mick Schumacher (Rahal-Honda) and a 30-point lead over Caio Collet (Foyt-Chevrolet).
For Mick Schumacher, this means that on Sunday he would have to finish at least eighth to still have a chance to become the top-scoring rookie of 2026. Eighth place (without bonus points) would only be enough if Dennis Hauger scores just five points. Even if Hauger finishes the race 25th and thus last, there are still five points in the IndyCar points system.
The situation is thus anything but easy for Schumacher, and even more difficult for Collet. The exact same points situation as in the rookie standings coincidentally also applies to the so-called “Leaders Circle.” Dennis Hauger is in 22nd place in the 2026 IndyCar overall standings before the final weekend. And this 22nd place is the last that still belongs to the Leaders Circle.
The Leaders Circle is the prize program announced by IndyCar for the following season. For each car that a team places in the top 22 of the final overall standings, there is a subsidy for the following year. After a recent increase, this subsidy for 2027 now amounts to a whopping 1.7 million US dollars (approximately 1.5 million euros).
This means specifically that among the 25 cars with charter contracts (see below), the three cars that finish worst in the final 2026 overall standings will not be part of the Leaders Circle program for 2027 and thus will not benefit from the 1.7 million dollars.
IndyCar classic: Laguna Seca 1996
Apart from the decisions in the rookie standings and Leaders Circle, the last IndyCar race weekend of 2026 will also decide who will finish the season as vice-champion behind the old and new champion Alex Palou.
Five drivers still have a mathematical chance at the vice title: Christian Lundgaard (McLaren-Chevrolet), Kyle Kirkwood (Andretti-Honda), Pato O’Ward (McLaren-Chevrolet), and David Malukas (Penske-Chevrolet). Lundgaard, Kirkwood, and O’Ward are separated by just four points. For Malukas, the chances with a 23-point deficit to Lundgaard are only theoretical.
Schedule IndyCar Laguna Seca 2026 (CEST)
For local time, subtract nine hours.
Friday, September 4
11:00 PM – 12:30 AM: 1st Free Practice
Saturday, September 5
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM: 2nd Free Practice
10:30 PM – 12:00 AM: Qualifying
Sunday, September 6
2:10 AM – 2:40 AM: Warm-up
9:05 PM: Race start
Livestream and TV broadcast IndyCar 2026
The TV rights in Germany for the 2026 IndyCar season are split, but the series is not available on free TV: As usual, the pay-TV channel Sky in Germany broadcasts all IndyCar races – again on Sky Sport F1, the channel primarily covering Formula 1. (IndyCar 2026 on TV and livestream: All details)
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Photo gallery: Mick Schumacher’s results in the 2026 IndyCar season
Motorvision is another pay-TV channel that has been broadcasting IndyCar races live since 2025. The coverage is broadcast via Motorvision+ and is available not only in Germany but also in Austria and Switzerland.
There is also a paid offer from IndyCar with livestreams of all sessions on the official website Indycarlive.com. These can also be watched “on demand” at any time.
Friday, September 4
11:00 PM – 12:30 AM: 1st Free Practice (Sky)
Saturday, September 5
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: 2nd Free Practice (Sky)
10:30 PM – 12:00 AM: Qualifying (Sky)
Sunday, September 6
9:00 PM – 11:30 PM: Race live (Sky/Motorvision+)
Monday, September 7
11:00 PM – 1:00 AM: Race replay (Sky)
Entry list IndyCar Laguna Seca 2026
In the 2026 IndyCar series, 25 drivers from ten different teams are registered. All 25 cars have a so-called charter, which entitles them to start at all races but also obliges them. Guest starters in the form of additional entries are still allowed at all races until the end of the 2026 season, from 2027 only at the Indy 500.
All rookie cars in the IndyCar series are marked with a yellow marking on the rear so that those behind know they are dealing with an inexperienced driver. (Overview: Mick Schumacher and his 24 opponents in detail)
#2 – Josef Newgarden – Team Penske – Chevrolet
#3 – Scott McLaughlin – Team Penske – Chevrolet
#4 – Caio Collet – A.J. Foyt Enterprises – Chevrolet (Rookie)
#5 – Patricio “Pato” O’Ward – Arrow McLaren – Chevrolet
#6 – Nolan Siegel – Arrow McLaren – Chevrolet
#7 – Christian Lundgaard – Arrow McLaren – Chevrolet
#8 – Kyffin Simpson – Chip Ganassi Racing – Honda
#9 – Scott Dixon – Chip Ganassi Racing – Honda
#10 – Alex Palou – Chip Ganassi Racing – Honda
#12 – David Malukas – Team Penske – Chevrolet
#14 – Santino Ferrucci – A.J. Foyt Enterprises – Chevrolet
#15 – Graham Rahal – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing – Honda
#18 – Romain Grosjean – Dale Coyne Racing – Honda
#19 – Dennis Hauger – Dale Coyne Racing – Honda (Rookie)
#20 – Alexander Rossi – Ed Carpenter Racing – Chevrolet
#21 – Christian Rasmussen – Ed Carpenter Racing – Chevrolet
#26 – Will Power – Andretti Global – Honda
#27 – Kyle Kirkwood – Andretti Global – Honda
#28 – Marcus Ericsson – Andretti Global – Honda
#45 – Louis Foster – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing – Honda
#47 – Mick Schumacher – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing – Honda (Rookie)
#60 – Felix Rosenqvist – Meyer Shank Racing – Honda
#66 – Marcus Armstrong – Meyer Shank Racing – Honda
#76 – Rinus “VeeKay” van Kalmthout – Juncos Hollinger Racing – Chevrolet
#77 – Sting Ray Robb – Juncos Hollinger Racing – Chevrolet
Data on WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Type: permanent race track
Location: Monterey (California)
Length: 2.238 miles (3.601 kilometers)
Turns: 11
On calendar since: 1983 (with interruptions)
Race title: Mission Grand Prix of Monterey
Direction: counterclockwise
Race distance: 95 laps
Lap record: 1:06.461 minutes – 121.226 mph (195.053 km/h)
Lap record holder: Christian Lundgaard (2023; in Q2 segment)
Most poles: Mario Andretti, Bryan Herta (3)
Most wins: Bobby Rahal (4)
All IndyCar winners at Laguna Seca
2025 (IndyCar): Alex Palou
2024 (IndyCar): Alex Palou
2023 (IndyCar): Scott Dixon
2022 (IndyCar): Alex Palou
2021 (IndyCar): Colton Herta
2020 not on calendar (Corona pandemic)
2019 (IndyCar): Colton Herta
2005 to 2018 not on calendar
2004 (ChampCar): Patrick Carpentier
2003 (CART): Patrick Carpentier
2002 (CART): Cristiano da Matta
2001 (CART): Max Papis
2000 (CART): Helio Castroneves
1999 (CART): Bryan Herta
1998 (CART): Bryan Herta
1997 (CART): Jimmy Vasser
1996 (CART): Alex Zanardi
1995 (CART): Gil de Ferran
1994 (CART): Paul Tracy
1993 (CART): Paul Tracy
1992 (CART): Michael Andretti
1991 (CART): Michael Andretti
1990 (CART): Danny Sullivan
1989 (CART): Rick Mears
1988 (CART): Danny Sullivan
1987 (CART): Bobby Rahal
1986 (CART): Bobby Rahal
1985 (CART): Bobby Rahal
1984 (CART): Bobby Rahal
1983 (CART): Teo Fabi
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