Overview
- Scott McLaughlin won the IndyCar season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sunday, leading 87 of 95 laps from pole and finishing 1.3739 seconds ahead of Kyle Kirkwood.
- Alex Palou’s fifth series championship, clinched the previous weekend at Milwaukee, was unaffected by the finale and he closed the year 86 points clear of runner‑up Kyle Kirkwood.
- Josh Pierson claimed his first career INDY NXT victory at Laguna Seca by leading all 35 laps from pole, while rookie Nikita Johnson extended his championship lead to 19 points with one race remaining.
- The only full‑course caution came on the opening lap when Sting Ray Robb hit Dennis Hauger, forcing Hauger’s DNF but allowing him to retain Rookie of the Year honors based on the season points tally.
- The clean, long‑green finale highlighted tire strategy and pit execution, left several teams planning immediate off‑season testing, and frames driver moves and Scott Dixon’s departure from Chip Ganassi Racing as key storylines to watch for 2027.