New Zealand driver Scott McLaughlin has won the final IndyCar race of the 2026 season, ending a long 36-race wait for a victory. He led most of the laps at the Grand Prix of Monterey in California on 7 September 2026, finishing well ahead of the rest of the field.
It was McLaughlin’s eighth win in his IndyCar career, and his first since September 2024. After the race, he spoke about his young daughter. “My little girl hasn’t seen me win yet, and now she has. So, Dad’s coming home with a trophy,” he said.
The same race marked the end of an era for fellow Kiwi Scott Dixon, who completed his 415th and final race for Chip Ganassi Racing after 25 years with the team. Dixon, a six-time IndyCar champion, has driven for Ganassi since 2002 and is now moving to a new team, Arrow McLaren, for next season.
Dixon said saying goodbye wasn’t easy after so many years together. He admitted he came “close a couple of times” to getting emotional as he thought back over his long career with the team.
It’s an exciting time for New Zealand motorsport fans, with one Kiwi driver celebrating a big win and another closing an incredible chapter of his career.
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