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Supercars legend McLaughlin ends IndyCar drought
Reuters • September 7th, 2026 1:37 pm
Scott McLaughlin has finished a challenging IndyCar season with a win in California | Photo: AP
Supercars legend Scott McLaughlin ended his 2026 IndyCar season with a long-sought victory at the Grand Prix of Monterey before Alex Palou lifted the trophy for the series championship.
McLaughlin was the polesitter and led 87 of the 95 laps for a dominant victory.
The New Zealander had not won a race since 2024, at the Milwaukee Mile. The 33-year-old dedicated it to his daughter Lucy, who was born in October 2024.
"My little girl hasn't seen me win yet, and now she has," McLaughlin said. "So, Dad's coming home with a trophy, baby. Let's go.
"These guys and girls at Team Penske have stood behind me the whole time. Congrats to Alex on his fifth (championship), but we're working hard to beat them, and today was a big step in the right direction."
Last week, Palou clinched his fourth successive IndyCar championship and fifth in six years with one race to go. The Spaniard won six races and finished the season with 631 points, 86 more than runner-up Kyle Kirkwood.
In the trophy presentation on Sunday (Monday AEST) in Monterey, California, Palou thanked Chip Ganassi Racing and the team behind his No. 10 DHL Honda.
"I had the rocket ship," Palou said of his racecar.
"Just been a magical year. Thank you all, guys, for being here. It makes it super special, and time to celebrate with all these guys."
At 29, Palou is the youngest driver in IndyCar history to win five season titles. New Zealand's Scott Dixon holds the record with six, while A.J. Foyt won seven championships in the open-wheel racing series that preceded IndyCar.
