The exhilarating 2023 NTT IndyCar Series season culminates this weekend at the iconic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, an event typically charged with the high stakes of a championship decider. However, this year presents a unique scenario. Alex Palou, the Spanish sensation, has already etched his name into the history books, securing the Astor Challenge Cup before the season finale – a feat unprecedented in the modern era of IndyCar. This remarkable achievement underscores a season of unparalleled dominance for the Chip Ganassi Racing driver, who has consistently demonstrated a masterful blend of speed, strategy, and precision across a diverse calendar of circuits.
With the championship trophy firmly in hand, Palou has spent the week basking in the glory, participating in celebratory photoshoots that highlight his historic accomplishment. He can approach this final race at Laguna Seca with a sense of calm, knowing his status as champion is secure and his long-term future with Chip Ganassi Racing appears robust following a recent resolution of contractual matters. His journey this season has been a testament to relentless pursuit of excellence, culminating in a dominant performance that saw him clinch the title with a race to spare, a rare achievement in the fiercely competitive world of IndyCar.
Adding to the unusual calm at the top, his seasoned teammate, Scott Dixon, has also secured his position, guaranteeing himself a second-place finish in the overall standings. The six-time champion’s consistent excellence throughout the season has once again shone through, placing him 56 points clear of his closest rival with only a maximum of 54 points available at Laguna Seca. This means that while the coveted top two spots are definitively settled, the season finale at Laguna Seca is far from a mere exhibition. Beneath the surface of a ‘dead rubber’ race for the championship, a multitude of compelling storylines, critical battles, and career-defining opportunities await, promising an engaging spectacle for motorsport enthusiasts.
The Intense Battle for Third Place
While the top two positions in the championship are locked, the fight for third place remains fiercely contested, adding a layer of intrigue to the Laguna Seca finale. Josef Newgarden, the reigning Indianapolis 500 winner and a two-time IndyCar champion, once posed the most significant threat to Palou’s title aspirations. However, his championship bid ultimately fell short, meaning his impressive streak of three consecutive championship runner-up finishes will conclude this year, albeit not in the manner he would have hoped. Newgarden now finds himself in a tight battle to maintain a top-three overall finish, a position that would still represent a strong season despite missing out on the ultimate prize.
He leads McLaren’s dynamic driver, Pato O’Ward, by a mere five points, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown at Laguna Seca. Newgarden has shown formidable strength on oval circuits this season, highlighted by his Indy 500 victory, but his performance on permanent road courses has been less consistent. Despite boasting eight career wins on road courses, his average finish in the six permanent road races this year stands at 11th. This contrasts sharply with O’Ward’s impressive average of a fourth-place finish over the same six races, which includes three crucial podium appearances. O’Ward’s consistent road course form could give him a significant edge at the winding Laguna Seca circuit, known for its technical demands and iconic Corkscrew section.
Adding another dimension to this intense battle is Scott McLaughlin, Newgarden’s Team Penske stablemate. McLaughlin sits just 22 points behind Newgarden, positioning him perfectly to capitalize should both Newgarden and O’Ward encounter difficulties. McLaughlin is also the only Penske driver to have secured a victory on a permanent road course this year, triumphing at Barber Motorsports Park ahead of O’Ward. This victory underscores his capability on such circuits and makes him a formidable contender for a podium finish, and potentially third in the championship, at Laguna Seca.
When considering past performances at Laguna Seca, Newgarden holds a slight advantage as the only one of the three drivers to have graced the podium in an IndyCar at this track, finishing second last year after an incredible charge from 25th on the grid. McLaughlin secured a solid sixth place last year, while O’Ward finished fifth two years ago. These historical insights suggest a tight contest, where experience and current form on road courses will be critical factors in determining who ultimately claims the coveted third spot in the 2023 IndyCar championship standings.
The Race for Rookie of the Year Honors
The battle for the Rookie of the Year title also provides a compelling subplot for the season finale. Two years ago, Romain Grosjean narrowly missed out on the accolade despite showcasing exceptional talent on road and street courses for Dale Coyne Racing. His decision to voluntarily skip all but one oval race proved to be the deciding factor, as Scott McLaughlin, despite not yet fully mastering IndyCar, clinched the title through sheer consistency and participation in every round of the 2021 season.
Fast forward to 2023, and Marcus Armstrong, another Chip Ganassi Racing talent, is poised to comfortably secure Rookie of the Year honors. His recent multi-year, full-season extension with Ganassi for 2024 and beyond is a testament to his impressive debut season. Despite a similar road and street course-only program to Grosjean in 2021, Armstrong has demonstrated a level of consistency and maturity that has set him apart from his rookie peers. His adaptation to the demanding IndyCar machinery and the competitive environment has been remarkable, solidifying his future in the series.
To be fair, the 2023 full-season rookie class has, by many accounts, struggled to consistently impress, making Armstrong’s relative dominance all the more noteworthy. The only driver with a mathematical chance of catching Armstrong is Agustin Canapino, the four-time Turismo Carretera champion from Argentina, who has transitioned to IndyCar. However, Canapino faces a significant 26-point deficit, and his season-best finish has been a 12th place, which on its own yields only 18 points. Overcoming such a gap against Armstrong’s consistent performances would require a truly exceptional and unprecedented result from Canapino, making Armstrong the clear favorite to claim the top rookie honors. Furthermore, Canapino’s performance at Laguna Seca carries even greater weight, as he may well be racing not just for Rookie of the Year points, but for his very future in the sport, intricately linked to the critical Leaders Circle battle.
The Critical Scramble for Leaders Circle Spots
Beyond the individual accolades and championship positions, one of the most financially significant battles unfolds for the remaining spots in the coveted IndyCar Leaders Circle for 2024. This program, designed to support full-time entries, grants each car finishing in the top 22 of the entrant’s championship a substantial bonus prize of $910,000 (£729,000). This six-figure sum is not merely a bonus; for many teams, it represents a vital financial lifeline. It can be the determining factor in a team’s ability to maintain its current number of entries, whether they need to secure a paying driver for the following season, or even if certain drivers will have a seat in IndyCar next year.
The financial implications cannot be overstated. As seen in Formula 1 during the early 2010s, securing a top-ten finish in the constructors’ championship often meant the difference between survival and extinction for smaller teams. In IndyCar, the Leaders Circle bonus plays a similar critical role, providing stability and allowing teams to invest further in their operations, personnel, and equipment for the upcoming season. Laguna Seca will host a tense showdown as five cars vie for the final two available positions within the 2024 Leaders Circle.
Ed Carpenter Racing’s number 20 car currently sits seven points above the safety threshold, but its performance has been inconsistent since Conor Daly was replaced by Ryan Hunter-Reay after Detroit. The number 30 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing car, initially campaigned by Jack Harvey, is precariously positioned ‘on the bubble’ in 22nd place. RLL has also undergone driver changes late in the season, with Juri Vips making only his second start this weekend. His performance will be crucial for the team’s financial stability.
Andretti Autosport’s number 29 car, co-owned by George Steinbrenner IV, is three points behind the cut-off. If the outgoing Devlin DeFrancesco cannot steer this car into the top 22, Andretti may face the difficult decision of downsizing to just three full-time entries in 2024, unless they manage to secure another paying driver to fund the fourth car. This highlights the severe impact of missing out on the Leaders Circle payment even for a prominent team like Andretti.
Another three points back is the number 60 Meyer Shank Racing car. While IMSA premier class champion Tom Blomqvist is already signed for this car in the upcoming season, ensuring its presence regardless of the Leaders Circle outcome, securing the bonus is still incredibly important. For Blomqvist, a strong performance here would ensure his full-time transition to IndyCar in 2024 starts on the strongest possible financial footing for his new team.
Finally, the number 78 Juncos Hollinger Racing car, driven by Agustin Canapino, is eight points away from the crucial cut-line. As mentioned earlier regarding the Rookie of the Year battle, Canapino’s IndyCar future could very well hinge on the outcome of this race. A strong result that propels his car into the Leaders Circle would provide a compelling argument for his continued presence in the series, securing vital funding for his team and potentially solidifying his place in the competitive IndyCar paddock for years to come. The stakes are incredibly high for these teams and drivers, transforming what might otherwise be a subdued finale into a nail-biting fight for financial survival and career longevity.
Drivers and Teams Desperate for a Race Win
While the championship and major financial incentives are the primary draws, the pursuit of a race win remains a powerful motivator for many drivers and teams, especially in a season where some prominent names have yet to taste victory. Among them is two-time series champion Will Power, who dramatically clinched his second Astor Cup last year at Laguna Seca. Power returns to the circuit hoping to extend his remarkable streak of consecutive seasons with at least one race win, a formidable record that currently stands at 16 seasons stretching back to 2007. The added challenge for Power is that he has yet to secure a victory at Laguna Seca itself in his illustrious career, making this weekend a dual quest for both extending his streak and conquering a new circuit.
But Power is by no means the only driver feeling the pressure to claim a victory. All three full-time McLaren drivers – Pato O’Ward, Alexander Rossi, and Felix Rosenqvist (who is MSR-bound for next season) – have endured a winless season. For a team as ambitious and well-funded as McLaren, which has positioned itself as a significant disruptor in IndyCar, concluding the season without a single race victory would be a stunning and deeply disappointing outcome. A win at Laguna Seca would not only provide a much-needed morale boost but also validate their significant investment and efforts, ensuring they carry momentum into the off-season and next year.
Colton Herta, a young American talent, also faces a significant drought, having not won an IndyCar race since May of last year at the Indianapolis Grand Prix. This extended period without a victory has been particularly poignant following intense rumors of a potential transfer to Formula 1 earlier this year, a move that ultimately fell through. However, Laguna Seca is a special place for Herta, where he boasts an impressive record of two pole-to-win victories (2019, 2021). Furthermore, he will be exceptionally motivated to perform, racing in a special retro livery that mirrors the design his father, Bryan Herta, sported when he secured his first CART race win at this very track 25 years ago. The emotional connection and past success could be the catalyst Herta needs to break his winless streak.
Then there is the intriguing case of Romain Grosjean. His three years in IndyCar have often mirrored his decade-long career in Formula 1: flashes of brilliant speed interspersed with perplexing moments and missed opportunities. He has already announced his departure from Andretti Autosport after two frustrating seasons, and his future in single-seater racing remains uncertain. A victory in his final start in the number 28 car at Laguna Seca could be a career-defining moment, potentially swaying his decision to remain in the series for 2024 or, conversely, to call time on his open-wheel career altogether. For Grosjean, a win would be a powerful statement, a final flourish to an often-turbulent but always passionate chapter in his racing journey.
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