Key takeaways
- Honoring a legend: Chip Ganassi Racing unveiled a retro 1996 livery for Álex Palou at the Laguna Seca season finale, paying tribute to the late Alessandro Zanardi.
- 30th anniversary of “The Pass”: The design marks 30 years since Zanardi’s famous overtake on Bryan Herta at the Corkscrew in September 1996.
- Championship on the brink: Palou leads the 2026 IndyCar title race by 91 points over Kyle Kirkwood heading into the Milwaukee doubleheader ahead of Laguna Seca.
Chip Ganassi Racing will honor motorsport icon Alessandro Zanardi at the 2026 IndyCar Series season finale at Laguna Seca (September 4–6). Championship leader Álex Palou will run a specialized livery inspired by the target lightning-bolt design driven by Zanardi in 1996—the year Ganassi captured its first category title alongside Honda.
While Jimmy Vasser secured the 1996 championship drivers’ crown, Zanardi etched his name into racing lore at Laguna Seca on September 8, 1996, executing “The Pass” on Bryan Herta through the Corkscrew on the final lap to take victory.
The tribute carries added weight following Zanardi’s passing on May 1, 2026. The updated livery on Palou’s #10 Honda integrates the bold red hues and lightning graphics characteristic of Ganassi’s 1996 fleet, blended with modern primary sponsor accents.
“I’m excited to have the lightning livery on the car,” Palou stated. “We’re going to race in memory of Alessandro Zanardi. We’re going to race at Laguna, at that track, in that corner, and on top of that, it’s 30 years since the anniversary of Ganassi and Honda’s first title in IndyCar. So we’re going to give everything for the fans and for ourselves too. Hopefully, it’s a great race for us in the #10.“
Palou arrives at the final stretch of the season on the verge of securing Ganassi’s record-breaking 19th IndyCar Championship, surpassing Team Penske in the all-time standings. Holding a 91-point advantage over Kyle Kirkwood, Palou can clinch the 2026 title as early as the upcoming doubleheader at Milwaukee.
The livery tribute follows major developments across the IndyCar and global paddock, including IndyCar nearing an agreement for a 2027 race in Goiânia, Brazil, Yuki Tsunoda keeping the door open for a future move to IndyCar, and NASCAR unveiling its 2027 schedule changes.
The IndyCar Series continues this weekend with the Milwaukee Mile doubleheader (Rounds 16 & 17) in West Allis, Wisconsin, before heading to Laguna Seca for the season finale from September 4–6. GRANDE PRÊMIO provides complete live coverage of every session. Follow all updates on our news page.
IndyCar Series Standings (Top 5 ahead of Milwaukee)
| Pos | Driver | Team | Engine | Points |
| 1 | Álex Palou | Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda | 525 |
| 2 | Kyle Kirkwood | Andretti Global | Honda | 434 |
| 3 | Pato O’Ward | Arrow McLaren | Chevrolet | 412 |
| 4 | Colton Herta | Andretti Global | Honda | 398 |
| 5 | Scott Dixon | Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda | 385 |
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Why is Chip Ganassi Racing running a special livery at Laguna Seca?
The special livery pays tribute to the late Alessandro Zanardi and marks 30 years since “The Pass” at the Corkscrew, as well as Chip Ganassi Racing’s first IndyCar title in 1996.
2. What is “The Pass”?
“The Pass” refers to Alessandro Zanardi’s famous final-lap overtake on Bryan Herta through the Corkscrew turn at Laguna Seca to win the 1996 season finale.
3. How can Álex Palou clinch the 2026 IndyCar Championship at Milwaukee?
Palou can secure the title if he leaves the first Milwaukee race with a 108-point lead, or leaves the second race with a 54-point advantage over second place in the standings.
