Preview: Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey

INDIANAPOLIS, In. – With the season finale this weekend, which driver takes momentum into 2027?

Race weekend: Friday, Sept. 4 – Sunday, Sept. 6

Track: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, an 11-turn, 2.238-mile permanent road course in Monterey, California

Race distance: 95 laps / 212.61 miles

 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Entry List  | Weekend Event Schedule

Push to Pass parameters: 150 seconds of total time, with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation

Hybrid energy deployment parameters: Unlimited activation, with a maximum deployment of 350 kilojoules (kJ) per lap

Firestone tire allotment: Five sets primary, five sets alternate to be used during the event weekend. Teams must use one set of primary and one new set of alternate tires unless wet conditions are declared. One additional set is available for the weekend’s first session to teams fielding a rookie driver

2025 race winner: Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)

2025 NTT P1 Award winner: Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda), 1:08.3413 / 117.891 mph

Qualifying record: Christian Lundgaard, 1:06.4610 / 121.226 mph, Sept. 9, 2023

At-track schedule (PDT):

Friday, Sept. 4

2 PM– Practice 1 (40 minutes for all cars, followed by two groups for 12 minutes each)

Saturday, Sept. 5

10:05 AM – Practice 2 (40 minutes for all cars, followed by two groups for 12 minutes each)

1:35 PM – NTT P1 Award qualifying (three rounds of knockout qualifying)

5:10 PM – Final Practice

Sunday, Sept. 6

12:05 PM – Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey Race

Race Notes:

• Alex Palou became the second driver to win four consecutive INDYCAR SERIES championships when he clinched his fifth NTT INDYCAR SERIES crown on Aug. 30 at the Milwaukee Mile.
• The Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey will be the 29th INDYCAR SERIES race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca but just the sixth since 2004. Teo Fabi won the first INDYCAR SERIES race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in 1983. Alex Palou has won the last two races at the track in 2024 and 2025.
• Scott Dixon and Alex Palou are the only former winners entered in this year’s race.

• Fourteen INDYCAR SERIES drivers have won at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca from the pole – Teo Fabi (1983), Bobby Rahal (1985), Danny Sullivan (1988), Rick Mears (1989), Danny Sullivan (1990), Michael Andretti (1991, 1992), Paul Tracy (1994), Alex Zanardi (1996), Bryan Herta (1998, 1999), Helio Castroneves (2000), Cristiano da Matta (2002), Patrick Carpentier (2003), Colton Herta (2019, 2021) and Alex Palou (2024, 2025).

• Team Penske has won six times at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Penske’s winning drivers are Danny Sullivan (1988, 1990), Rick Mears (1989), Paul Tracy (1993, 1994) and Helio Castroneves (2000). Chip Ganassi Racing also has six wins with Alex Palou (2022, 2024, 2025), Scott Dixon (2023), Alex Zanardi (1996) and Jimmy Vasser (1997). Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing has three wins with Bryan Herta (1998, 1999) and Max Papis (2001).
• Twenty-two drivers entered in the event have competed in past INDYCAR SERIES races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Scott Dixon has eight starts, most among the entered drivers. Nine entered drivers have led laps at the track: Alex Palou 250, Kyle Kirkwood 24, Will Power 23, Dixon 22, Pato O’Ward 15, Felix Rosenqvist 11, Nolan Siegel 11, Alexander Rossi 10 and Josef Newgarden 10.
• Rookies Caio Collet, Dennis Hauger and Mick Schumacher will race an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the first time this weekend. Collet swept the INDY NXT by Firestone doubleheader last season at Laguna Seca.

Milestones

Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 375th consecutive start, extending his record streak. Dixon can also extend his series record to 437 career starts with a start on Sunday

Graham Rahal will attempt to make his 275th consecutive start, the third-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history

Josef Newgarden will attempt to make his 236th consecutive start and the 250th start of his career