There is one more race of the 2026 NTT IndyCar season, and everything is still at stake. As they take on Laguna Seca for the Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey, drivers look to go out with a bang, whether they'll be returning to the series or not.
Alex Palou has nothing to lose, however. After placing higher than Kyle Kirkwood in both races at the Milwaukee Mile, his fifth championship was secured. This was his fourth consecutive championship, and despite not winning both races, he proved why he deserved it.
Since he didn't get the results he may have wanted, Palou is likely to give it his all this race. He's shown dominance at Laguna Seca before, and it wouldn't be a surprise if he did once again.
The two runner-ups have the most to prove in this season finale. Christian Lundgaard and Kirkwood are only separated by two points. For Lundgaard, this race can help secure a seat for the 2027 season, as he is still unsigned. There's a chance he can take Scott Dixon's Chip Ganassi seat, and this is the best chance for him to prove that he's earned it.
Lundgaard is known for his dominance on road courses. He won the Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course and the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America. Lundgaard is a potential winner at Laguna Seca with his road course abilities.

#lundgaard #seca #prix #race

The IndyCar Series will race by the National Archives and the Smithsonian Air and ***** e Museum today in the Freedom 250 on the streets of Washington, D.C.
Championship points leader Alex Palou starts from the pole position for the longest street course race in series history, 147 laps on a 7-turn, 1.7-mile layout. He has an outside chance to lock up his fourth consecutive ***** le, and fifth in six years.
Kyle Kirkwood also earns a front-row starting spot as he and David Malukas (starting 6th) and Christian Lundgaard (9th) fight for second place in the standings.
President Trump is scheduled to wave the green flag shortly after 1 p.m.
We will have leaderboard updates and highlights throughout, so remember to refresh.

#race

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two practice sessions are in the books on the streets of the nation's capital.
But who will take pole position for the IndyCar Freedom 250?
Kyle Kirkwood topped the timing sheets during the first practice session, ahead of Alex Palou, the driver he is chasing in the IndyCar standings. But it was Palou who led the way in the second session, just 0.0766 seconds ahead of Kirkwood.
Scott Dixon and the Arrow McLaren pair of Nolan Siegel and Pato O'Ward rounded out the top five from the second practice session. Their Arrow McLaren teammate Christian Lundgaard posted the sixth-fastest time.
Speaking with the media, including SB Nation, following the first practice session Palou talked at length about the 1.7-mile track that winds around the National Mall, with landmarks such as the Washington Monument and the United States Capitol Building helping to round out the backdrop.

#indycar #kirkwood #mclaren

The IndyCar Series' first race in Markham, Ontario, Canada, will have a different look up front. Louis Foster starts from the pole position and Christian Lundgaard is second for the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham, a 90-lap race on the 12-turn, 2.19-mile layout.
These drivers crashed during practice or qualifying: Alex Palou, Caio Collet, Will Power and Josef Newgarden all start further back in the field than they'd like.
These drivers face 6-position grid penalties for excessive engine changes: Alexander Rossi, Christian Rasmussen, Marcus Armstrong, Will Power, Kyle Kirkwood and Pato O'Ward.
We will have leaderboard updates and highlights throughout, so please remember to refresh.
(*-drivers moved back 6 places on starting grid for excessive engine changes)

#drivers #markham #grid

The IndyCar Series' first race in Markham, Ontario, Canada, will have a different look up front. Louis Foster starts from the pole position and Christian Lundgaard is second for the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham, a 90-lap race on the 12-turn, 2.19-mile layout.
These drivers crashed during practice or qualifying: Alex Palou, Caio Collet, Will Power and Josef Newgarden all start further back in the field than they'd like.
These drivers face 6-position grid penalties for excessive engine changes: Alexander Rossi, Christian Rasmussen, Marcus Armstrong, Will Power, Kyle Kirkwood and Pato O'Ward.
We will have leaderboard updates and highlights throughout, so please remember to refresh.
(*-drivers moved back 6 places on starting grid for excessive engine changes)

#markham #christian #position #excessive

Louis Foster wins the pole position for the IndyCar Series race in Markham, Ontario, Canada. Christian Lundgaard is also on the front row for the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham, a 90-lap race on the 12-turn, 2.19-mile layout.
Many drivers crash while testing the limits on a new course.
Series points leader Alex Palou crashes during the second round of qualifying and takes the 11th spot, his first starting position this season outside the top 10.
Caio Collet's hurriedly repaired car fails on track during qualifying; he crashed during the second practice session.
Will Power also crashed in practice, and he spins during qualifying.

#qualifying #ontario #louis

Christian Lundgaard will need to conjure another miraculous drive from the back of the grid after severe electrical issues derailed his qualifying effort for the Grand Prix of Portland.
The Arrow McLaren driver entered the race weekend sitting fourth in the championship standings, anchored by two victories this season—including a sensational last-to-first charge at Road America back in June. However, the 25-year-old Dane will have to replicate that monumental performance on Portland International Raceway's tight, 12-turn, 1.964-mile natural road course after mounting electrical problems left his # 7 Chevrolet severely down on power.
Trouble struck midway through the first round of qualifying (Q1). Lundgaard brought the car into the pit lane for a fresh set of tires, but the electronic issues quickly escalated.
"Quite disappointed in how our day ended up, considering we seemed to have made progress overnight with our pace," Lundgaard said. "My dash froze when we came in for the tire change midway through Q1, and when we fired up again, my hybrid didn't work after that."
Without the critical boost from the hybrid unit, Lundgaard was unable to generate the speed necessary to set a competitive lap time, leaving him trapped at the bottom of the speed charts for the remainder of the session.

#qualifying

The NTT IndyCar Series competed at Mid-Ohio, and it was a thrilling event. Christian Lundgaard won the pole for the grand prix, but he lost the lead to his Arrow McLaren teammate Pato O'Ward later in the race. However, in the closing laps, Lundgaard made a push, and only one of the McLaren drivers could enter victory lane.
O'Ward and the No. 5 team for McLaren won Sunday's race at Mid-Ohio, earning their first victory of the 2026 IndyCar season. The driver of the No. 5 car was able to maintain a healthy gap over Lundgaard, who came up just short of winning his third race of the 2026 campaign.
Alex Palou finished in fifth place and continues to hold a healthy gap over second-place Kyle Kirkwood in the point standings. However, O'Ward stole the headlines on Sunday afternoon. It has been a tough season for O'Ward, but it finally paid off with a very impressive win at Mid-Ohio.
No. 5 Pato O’Ward
No. 7 Christian Lundgaard

Pato O'Ward earned his first podium and his first victory of the 2026 season at Mid-Ohio, holding off teammate Christian Lundgaard. They started 1-2, and finished 1-2, with O'Ward pulling off a daring pass on pole-sitter Lundgaard partway through the race. Just under a second separated them at the checkered flaag.
This is O'Ward's tenth career win, tying him with Pete DePaolo and Jimmy Vasser for 40th on the all-time wins list.
Kyle Kirkwood finished third, leading the way for Andretti Global, followed Juncos Hollinger Racing's Rinus VeeKay in fourth, and championship leader Alex Palou in fifth for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Will Power, Christian Rasmusen, David Malukas, Josef Newgarden, and Nolan Siegel filled out the remainder of the top ten.
Caio Collet led the way for the 2026 rookie class, finishing 11th. The race went completely caution-free with no incidents.

Scott Dixon's future with Chip Ganassi Racing is up for debate. After spending 23 years with Chip Ganassi Racing, Dixon could be on the move, with Arrow McLaren as the likely favorite to land the NTT IndyCar Series legend. So, what is the latest on Dixon's status moving forward? The chatter is picking up.
A lot of people in the IndyCar paddock are saying that Dixon will drive for McLaren in 2027, as reported by Marshall Pruett on The Week in IndyCar podcast. In this scenario, the six-time IndyCar champion could replace Nolan Siegel or Christian Lundgaard. If Felix Rosenqvist joins Dixon at McLaren, Lundgaard could be pushed out.
Dixon has been a central figure of IndyCar for two decades, and his legacy is cemented with Chip Ganassi Racing. While a departure would be very shocking, it is starting to feel like a realistic outcome. Dixon could be going to McLaren, joining IndyCar's most popular driver, Pato O'Ward.
More: IndyCar interested in returning to Washington D.C. for 2027 season
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Scott Dixon to McLaren chatter increasing for 2027 IndyCar season

Meyer Shank Racing is looking to replace Felix Rosenqvist in 2027. Rosenqvist will not return to the No. 60 car for Meyer Shank Racing despite winning the 2026 Indianapolis 500. The organization is disappointed by the development; however, it could have its eyes on an NTT IndyCar Series star.
Christian Lundgaard could be one of the drivers who receives a call from Meyer Shank Racing, as reported by FOX Sports' Bob Pockrass. Lundgaard could be on the market if Scott Dixon leaves Chip Ganassi Racing for another big-time organization like Arrow McLaren.
More than likely, Lundgaard would be an obvious fit to replace Dixon at Chip Ganassi Racing, but Meyer Shank Racing could try to lure the star driver. It remains to be seen if Lundgaard will even leave McLaren, but the organization should push to acquire a star driver to replace Rosenqvist.
More: IndyCar interested in returning to Washington D.C. for 2027 season
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Meyer Shank Racing could push to sign IndyCar star for 2027