Why INDYCAR’s Season Finale Stakes Are Still High, Despite Alex Palou’s Title Win

In Driver’s Eye with James Hinchcliffe, the six-time INDYCAR winner will bring you inside the mind of a racer while breaking down the nuts and bolts of the sport for fans. A round of applause, a tip of the hat, to Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing on clinching the 2026 INDYCAR title last weekend in Milwaukee. They’ve now won four championships in a row and five of the last six. Truly staggering numbers in a hyper-competitive series. The big prize is out of reach for the other 24 drivers in the field, but we still have one race to go, the season finale. And it just so happens to be at one of the most famous race tracks in the world: Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. But the championship is over, you say. What’s the point, what’s the motivation, going into a race after the title has been won? Well, let me tell you. PALOU IS INDYCAR’S CHAMP, SO WHAT’S AT STAKE NOW? Palou might be the champ, but there’s still lots to race for this weekend. Let’s start immediately behind Palou, in the battle for second in the championship. Right now, Christian Lundgaard leads the three-way battle for “best of the rest” over Kyle Kirkwood and Pato O’Ward. David Malukas is technically still there — which is wildly impressive when you consider that he hasn’t won a race yet, and the other three have each won at least two — but I’d say he’s a long shot. Only four points separate Lundgaard, Kirkwood and O’Ward, meaning that P2 is up for grabs among that trio. O’Ward is coming off of back-to-back wins at Milwaukee to get himself in this conversation. Kirkwood is still flying high after that dominating performance in Washington, D.C. two weeks ago. Lundgaard has scored more points on road courses than anyone else this season. While there are no big checks and trophies for second in the championship, there are bragging rights to being the closest to Palou at the end of it all. Plus, heading into the off-season with some momentum is a huge boost for a team. And that leads us to what else is on the line at Laguna. The end of the season also means the end of an era, with Scott Dixon leaving Chip Ganassi Racing after more than 20 years that included 58 wins (of 59 total), six titles and an Indianapolis 500 victory. Dixon also has a record of 21 consecutive seasons with a win, and I know he would love nothing more than to keep the streak alive and end his tenure at CGR the same way he lived a lot of it — from Victory Lane. Will Power is extra motivated. He entered the 2026 INDYCAR season on a redemption tour after parting ways with Team Penske — where he won two series championships and an Indy 500 — at the end of 2025. He has had speed and podiums this season but has yet to get that first win with his new Andretti Global squad. And speaking of Penske, only Josef Newgarden has won a race for the Captain so far in 2026. Malukas has come record-breakingly close, and Scott Mclaughlin has been about right there too — but he also just passed the two-year mark since his last win. A W for either would go a long way to help feel like 2026 was a success. And you can’t forget Rookie of the Year. This is a title that is near and dear to me and doesn’t always get the credit it deserves. Jumping up into INDYCAR is a big step for young drivers. There is so much to learn, and you’re on the big stage, where mistakes are very public. It’s also the only title you only get one, single shot at winning. You can come back every year and try to win the title or the Indy 500, but you’re only a rookie once. Dennis Hauger leads Mick Schumacher and Caio Collet by a healthy margin, but all are still within range to end the weekend as the top INDYCAR rookie. It’s a huge thing for a driver to have on their mantle as you look to secure your future ride for next season. Which brings us to the final point: Some drivers are still trying to figure out where they are racing next season. Every race is essentially an audition, so every race, every lap, counts. THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE FAST: LAGUNA SECA Laguna Seca is a special place to race and a special place to win. It’s one of the most famous tracks in the world, and the 11-turn, 2.238-mile course is home to one of the most famous corners in racing: the Corkscrew. I’ll be honest, it’s not my favorite corner. This track has such a beautiful, graceful flow and rhythm, and, quite frankly, it is completely interrupted by the infamous Turn 7-8 combo! The Corkscrew is a blind entry, braking while the nose of your car is aimed at the sky. Then, as you start to arc in to the left, the track falls away — to eventually what ends up being about 10 stories by the time you reach Turn 11 — and you can’t see anything. Seriously though, nothing. There are three trees that sit off the track to the left of drivers. So the golden rule in Laguna Seca’s Corkscrew is to aim for the middle tree, and as the nose of the car falls to meet the race track, you should be roughly on the line you need! It’s a track with so much history, which is always something that makes it appealing to drivers. It’s also a place that celebrates its history, with many parts named after the greats. Andretti Hairpin, Rahal Straight. And, as of this weekend, the Zanardi Corkscrew, in honor of the late, great Italian INDYCAR champion who executed one of the most famous (and controversial) passes in modern racing at that very spot. 1 FOR THE ROAD Only one driver can win INDYCAR’s last race, but many can have good weekends and carry that feeling into the offseason. I mentioned earlier how momentum into the winter can be a big boost, and it’s true. Even if you’ve had a rough season, a strong final act sits with you and keeps motivation high over an offseason that can sometimes feel like it drags on forever. The driver, the team, the sponsors — everyone feels it when you leave the finale with the sweet taste of success. Conversely, a bad day can have that bitter taste fester until the season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg. You’re only as good as your last race, the saying goes. So despite the championship being settled, all 25 drivers will be looking to make sure they go into the offseason being remembered as a winner.