Andretti Global Returns to Scenic Laguna Seca Road Course for 2026 Season Finale
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone head west this weekend as Andretti Global takes on the 2026 season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The challenging 2.238-mile, 11-turn road course features the famous “Corkscrew,” with its six-story drop in a mere 450 feet that was popularized by “The Pass.” Originally constructed in 1957 in Monterey, California, when the Pebble Beach Road Races required a safer course, the track has become an iconic stop on the INDYCAR calendar.
Andretti enters the final weekend of the season with three INDYCAR wins and 12 podium finishes in 2026, while the INDY NXT team has earned two wins and 10 podiums. With one final race for Will Power, Kyle Kirkwood and Marcus Ericsson and two races for Lochie Hughes, Seb Murray, Max Taylor and Josh Pierson, the team will look to finish the season strong at Laguna Seca.
Race Details
| Mission Grand Prix of Monterey – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca |
| Round | 18/18 |
| Track Type | Road |
| Turns | 11 |
| Laps | 95 Laps |
| Track Length | 2.238 Miles |
| Grand Prix of Monterey – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca |
| Round | 15&16/17 |
| Track Type | Road |
| Turns | 11 |
| Laps | 35 Laps |
| Track Length | 2.238 Miles |
Fast Facts
INDYCAR
- Since Laguna Seca returned to the INDYCAR calendar in 2019, Andretti INDYCAR has recorded one win (C. Herta – 2021), one pole (C. Herta – 2021), nine top-10 finishes and 126 laps led on the historic Northern California road course.
Will Power
- Set to make his seventh appearance at Laguna Seca, Will Power will look for his first win at a track where he has stood on every step of the podium except the top. The INDYCAR veteran has also recorded one pole and three top-five finishes at Laguna Seca.
- Power started fifth at Laguna Seca last year and cycled to the lead during the second round of pit stops. He took the checkered in seventh.
Kyle Kirkwood
- Kyle Kirkwood returns to Laguna Seca this weekend looking to improve on his career-best finish of fifth at the Northern California track. The Florida driver has not finished outside the top 10 on a road course this season.
- Last year at Laguna Seca, Kirkwood worked his way up from 18th before a pair of penalties set him back and he ultimately finished 16th.
Marcus Ericsson
- Sporting the DKY Foundation livery this weekend, Marcus Ericsson will make his seventh appearance at Laguna Seca, where the Swede has recorded three top-10 finishes.
- During the 2025 race, Ericsson worked his way into the top 10 and ran as high as fifth. Unfortunately, the Swede’s race ended early after a spin in the Corkscrew with 15 laps remaining.
| Andretti INDYCAR Championship Standings |
| Will Power | 328 points | 11th |
| Kyle Kirkwood | 505 points | 3rd |
| Marcus Ericsson | 407 points | 8th |
INDY NXT
- The Andretti Global INDY NXT team has competed at WeatherTeach Raceway Laguna Seca for a total of eight years, with each race weekend to date being a doubleheader event. Over the years, the team has acquired numerous successes on the California road course, converting all seven of its INDY NXT pole positions into wins (Kirkwood – 2021 R1 & R2, Robb – 2022 R1, Rasmussen – 2022 R2, McElrea – 2023 R1, Foster – 2024 R1 & R2), collecting 17 podiums, recording 42 top-10 finishes and leading 240 laps.
Lochie Hughes
- Lochie Hughes will make his second appearance at Laguna Seca in INDY NXT this weekend for another doubleheader weekend at the California track.
- Last year saw the Australian earn a top-10 finish in Race 1. In Race 2, a late-race incident took Hughes out of podium contention, resulting in a 15th-place finish.
Seb Murray
- Seb Murray is set for his second appearance at Laguna Seca this weekend. He achieved his INDY NXT career-best road course result during his debut last year with a fifth-place finish in Race 2.
Max Taylor
- Max Taylor is competing in his second doubleheader appearance at Laguna Seca this weekend. Last year, Taylor showed significant progress across the weekend, rising from 16th in Race 1 to fourth in Race 2.
Josh Pierson
- Josh Pierson has competed at Laguna Seca in INDY NXT over the past two years, with last year proving to be a standout weekend for the American driver highlighted by earning back-to-back podium finishes in the doubleheader weekend.
| Andretti INDY NXT Driver Championship Standings |
| Lochie Hughes | 402 points | 6th |
| Seb Murray | 279 points | 13th |
| Max Taylor | 428 points | 4th |
| Josh Pierson | 303 points | 12th |
INDYCAR Team Quotes
Will Power
No. 26 TWG AI Honda
“Laguna Seca is a track I really enjoy. It’s very technical, very challenging and obviously the Corkscrew is a pretty unique part of the circuit. We’ve shown all year that the No. 26 TWG AI Honda has the pace to fight at the front, and this is one more opportunity to turn that into a win. That’s the goal going into the final weekend.”
Kyle Kirkwood
No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda
“I’m really excited for Laguna Seca. It’s one of our favorite circuits on the calendar because of the location and the history behind it. With only five points spread across the top four in the championship battle for second place, it’s a very high-pressure weekend for us on the No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda. Historically, Laguna Seca has been one of our best road courses, so we have very high hopes going into the weekend.”
Marcus Ericsson
No. 28 DKY Foundation Honda
“Laguna Seca is a legendary track and always a good time to race at. It’s a nice setting as well, and I love the area, so we’re looking forward to the season finale. We have great momentum at Andretti Global and have been super strong in the second half of the year, so we’re looking forward to finishing strong and having a great final weekend.”
Ron Ruzewski
Team Principal
“Here we are at the final race of the 2026 season. Laguna is such a great track, and we look forward to finishing the season on a high note. Our team continues to bring fast cars to the track every week, and we plan to do the same as we fight in the final race of the year. Our goals are straightforward as we try to wrap up the championship as strong as possible. All three drivers have been good at Laguna over the years, and the Andretti team has also prevailed. Once again, we will do our best to get all three on the podium and try to get the elusive sweep of the top spots.”
INDY NXT Team Quotes
Lochie Hughes
No. 26 Andretti Global Dallara
“Laguna Seca is the final chance of the season to earn some strong results, and I’m really looking forward to it. We’ve had some great moments this year and some weekends where we know we left more on the table. The goal is to put everything together this weekend and finish the season on a high. I’m ready to go racing.”
Seb Murray
No. 27 Megatron Dallara
“I’m looking to end the 2026 season on a high in Laguna this weekend. It’s one of my favorite tracks on the calendar, and I had good pace here last year. I’m hoping to score some solid points again this time around.”
Max Taylor
No. 28 Susan G. Komen Dallara
“I can’t believe we’re heading into the last race of the year. It’s been a season that I won’t forget, with a lot to be proud of. I’m confident in this Andretti team and my No. 28 crew. Let’s finish it off with a few wins!”
Josh Pierson
No. 29 Starchive Dallara
“It’s been a challenging year, but with the upcoming last two races, I hope to cap off the season on a high and produce what the No. 29 crew has been deserving. I enjoy Laguna and have previously had success there, so I’m ready for a strong result with the Andretti Global team.”
Don Lambert
Team Principal
“Laguna Seca is a historic track for INDYCAR and INDY NXT, and we can’t wait to get back there. It’s going to be a good opportunity for points and the Championship placement. We have been fighting hard all season and need to keep up the momentum to win a couple of races this weekend!”
