Key takeaways
- Fifth crown for Palou: Álex Palou secured his fifth IndyCar title with a calculated 10th-place finish in Milwaukee Race 1, building an unassailable lead heading into the season finale.
- Three-way duel for runner-up: Christian Lundgaard (506), Kyle Kirkwood (505), and Pato O’Ward (503) are separated by just three points, leaving the battle for second wide open for Laguna Seca.
- Collet’s uphill battle: Rookie Caio Collet faces a near-impossible task to secure a Leader’s Circle spot or Rookie of the Year honours, needing to outscore Dennis Hauger by 31 points.
Álex Palou officially put the 2026 IndyCar Series championship out of reach on Sunday, finishing 10th place in the rescheduled Milwaukee Race 1 to lock up his fifth title in the last six seasons.
While Palou’s relentless consistency has left rivals battling for second place in recent years, the fight for the runner-up spot in the standings has reached fever pitch heading into the season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Christian Lundgaard enters the final round holding a slender advantage in second place with 506 points, following a strong weekend for Arrow McLaren. However, Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood sits just one point behind (505 pts), while Pato O’Ward vaulted himself into contention with 503 points after completing a remarkable Sunday doubleheader sweep at Milwaukee. All three drivers control their own destiny in the fight for second place.
Further back, David Malukas remains mathematically in contention in fifth place with 484 points, though he requires a specific combination of results to climb into the top three.
The 2026 IndyCar Series season concludes next weekend, September 4–6, at Laguna Seca. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all sessions live. Follow all updates on our news page.
IndyCar Series Standings (Top 10 after Milwaukee Race 1)
| Pos | Driver | Team | Engine | Wins | Podiums | Points | Gap |
| 1 | Álex Palou | Chip Ganassi Racing | Honda | 6 | 7 | 607 | Champion |
| 2 | Christian Lundgaard | Arrow McLaren | Chevrolet | 2 | 4 | 506 | -101 |
| 3 | Kyle Kirkwood | Andretti Global | Honda | 2 | 4 | 505 | -102 |
| 4 | Pato O’Ward | Arrow McLaren | Chevrolet | 3 | 2 | 503 | -104 |
| 5 | David Malukas | Team Penske | Chevrolet | 0 | 6 | 484 | -123 |
| 6 | Scott McLaughlin | Team Penske | Chevrolet | 0 | 3 | 428 | -179 |
| 7 | Josef Newgarden | Team Penske | Chevrolet | 2 | 3 | 408 | -199 |
| 8 | Marcus Ericsson | Andretti Global | Honda | 1 | 2 | 397 | -210 |
| 9 | Felix Rosenqvist | Meyer Shank Racing | Honda | 1 | 5 | 379 | -228 |
| 10 | Rinus VeeKay | Juncos Hollinger Racing | Chevrolet | 0 | 1 | 365 | -242 |
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Who won the 2026 IndyCar Series Championship?
Álex Palou won the 2026 IndyCar Series title, earning his fifth championship in the last six seasons for Chip Ganassi Racing.
2. Which drivers are competing for second place in the championship at Laguna Seca?
Christian Lundgaard (506 pts), Kyle Kirkwood (505 pts), and Pato O’Ward (503 pts) are separated by just three points in the fight for the runner-up position.
3. When is the final race of the 2026 IndyCar Series season?
The season finale takes place from September 4–6, 2026, at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
