www.montereycountynow.com SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 29 There is the story everyone has come to expect, one that hasn’t happened in a couple of decades and one packed with high drama—even if it is for second place in the season standings. The NTT IndyCar series finale plays out on Sunday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with Alex Palou having already secured the championship, his fifth. The Ganassi Racing Honda driver claimed six wins and eight pole positions in what may be considered a down year—for him. Palou considers Laguna Seca one of his favorite tracks. He won three of the last four races on the 11-turn, 2.238-mile circuit. But there is a reason Laguna Seca is iconic. “It’s one of those tracks where you either get it right or get it wrong,” says Christian Lundgaard, who enters the weekend clinging to second in championship points. Just four of those precious points separate Lundgaard of Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, Kyle Kirkwood’s Andretti Honda and Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward. And then there is Scott Dixon. The veteran Ganassi Racing pilot is winless on the year, something that hasn’t happened since 2004. Dixon topped the podium at Laguna Seca in 2023. The twisting ribbon of asphalt may have a say in all of this. Just as drivers have favorite spots on a track, there are also corners that throw them for a potential loop. “You don’t see the apex,” says AJ Foyt Racing’s Caio Collet of Turn 6. “It’s one of the trickiest. To commit to the corner requires trust.” Collet comes to the season finale locked in a three-way battle for Rookie of the Year. There is less on the line for his AJ Foyt Chevrolet teammate, Santino Ferrucci, other than an elusive victory. “Shit,” he says, looking from the paddock toward his nemesis. “I hate 10. It’s all messed up for me. I like 9, but throwing the car into 10 is tough.” Lundgaard is troubled by Turn 11, the slowest corner at Laguna Seca. Mess it up and the car loses momentum for the quick frontstretch. The famous Corkscrew is only a momentary problem. “Because we haven’t been there in a year, every time on my first lap, I have no idea where I’m going,” he explains. “Then I’m fine.” Not everyone is so indifferent to its challenges. The Corkscrew starts with a blind turn, hard left at the top of the hill. There is a steep plunge, with apexes staggered on either side of the car. The track’s shape helps you—until it doesn’t. “The car hates the Corkscrew,” O’Ward insists. “It throws a lot of things that affect the race car all at once.” O’Ward is coming off a dominant weekend, having won both ends of a double-header at the Milwaukee Mile. And his performance this season might point to another checkered flag, should O’Ward find himself in podium contention. His top three finishes in 2026 have all been victories. “Three in a row would be magnificent,” he says. “We’re going to be on it. I’ll be pushing hard.” However, O’Ward has never reached the podium at Laguna Seca. Lundgaard has a bit of incentive, as well. Arrow McLaren chose not to renew his contract for next season, despite two wins and a strong shot at top three in the title race. Meanwhile, Team Penske driver David Malukas sits in fifth, within reach of second. But he is also searching for a first career win after six runner-up race finishes. Malukas notes that taking the checkered flag at Laguna Seca would help toward both goals. He is currently 23 points back of Lundgaard. A win pays 50. But trouble would have to find the other three second place championship contenders. “Everything needs to go your way— it’s a team effort,” he says of getting to victory lane. “But we are still in a championship battle and you don’t want to make a mistake.” And Malukas is clear on where that mistake is most likely to occur. “The Corkscrew. Every lap,” he observes. “You lose your braking there. It’s beautiful, but it’s the hardest corner.” Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey features practice, qualifying and racing for the Porsche Sprint Challenge, Indy Nxt and the NTT IndyCar Series. FridaySunday, Sept. 4-6, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, 1021 Highway 68, Salinas. $23-$212. (831) 242-8200, weathertechraceway.com. Alex Palou in action at Laguna Seca in 2025. He claimed the 2026 IndyCar title last week at Milwaukee, making him a five-time champion. But he has also won three of the previous four races at WeatherTech Raceway. Fast Food IndyCar drivers on their favorite dining spots in Monterey County. By Dave Faries “I don’t get out much,” Christian Lundgaard says with a laugh, recalling the time early in his racing career when friends asked for pictures from his travels: “OK—here’s a hotel, here’s a restaurant.” These days the Arrow McLaren driver in the NTT IndyCar series doesn’t even see many restaurants during the season. It’s a tight schedule—18 races between March and September, along with practice, testing, sponsor events, press conferences and more. On race weekends, he prefers to stay in an RV. “We cook a big batch of chicken and rice the first night and eat the leftovers,” he points out. “That’s efficiency.” Yet some IndyCar drivers manage to get away from the track and explore local restaurants. “I’m a foodie. I have my favorites at each place we go,” says Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren. And those favorites stay in his rotation. Branching out to find a new spot is time-consuming, and their time is limited. “Casanova in Carmel is a great place,” he adds. “That’s the main one I look forward to.” Team Penske driver David Malukas heads to Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey for some clam chowder. “It’s something I do with my family,” he points out, explaining that it has become something of a tradition. What he doesn’t do is seek out the hot dog that made his hometown famous, considering the act almost sacrilegious: “I keep that to Chicago.” There are regional favorites. A native of Denmark, Lundgaard misses rye bread. “With tuna, mayo and salt—that’s to die for,” he says. “You can’t get that here.” That WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca represents the season finale for IndyCar, drivers can unwind after Sunday’s race. “Sushi Kuma is my favorite,” notes AJ Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferrucci, where he’s come to know the owner. “We end up doing sake bombs with him. It’s a great way to end the year.” eatanddrink@montereycountynow.com “Every time on my first lap, I have no idea where I’m going.” SPORTS DANIEL DREIFUSS Go for Two With the season championship wrapped up, four drivers battle for second in points. By Dave Faries
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