The NTT IndyCar Series returns to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca this weekend in a new spot on the calendar, but with big-name drivers in the hunt for the championship.
After ending a 34-race winless streak with a Team Penske podium finish at Road America, Will Power leads the title standings by five points over defending champion Alex Palou with 10 races remaining.
En route to his second championship, Power led by three points with 10 races remaining in the 2022 season. The No. 12 Dallara-Chevrolet driver took the title at Laguna Seca in a season finale dominated by Palou.
Going into the final IndyCar season finale at Laguna Seca, Palou had won the title last year. Six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon, who sits third on the points table, won a wild 2023 race at the historic road course with six leaders and eight cautions over 35 laps on the 11-turn, 2.238-mile road course in Monterey. California.
On the 27-car grid, Agustin Canapino returns this weekend in the No. 78 Dallara-Chevy of Juncos Hollinger Racing, David Malukas makes his debut in the No. 66 for Meyer Shank Racing and Nolan Siegel replaces Theo Pourchaire in the No. 66 .6 Dallara Chevy for Arrow McLaren.
Although it has won three of the past five races (Power at Road America, Josef Newgarden at the Indy 500 and Scott McLaughlin at Barber Motorsports Park), Team Penske’s last win was at Laguna in 2000 (although the team was absent until the race was on the circuit). IndyCar Series returned in 2019).
Here are the details for the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca race weekend (all times are ET):
INDYCAR LAGUNA SECA GP START TIMES
TV: Sunday, June 23, 6pm ET on USA and streaming on Peacock.
Kevin Lee is the announcer with analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Dillon Welch and Georgia Henneberry are the pit reporters. Peacock will also be the streaming broadcast for practices as well as qualifying and Indy NXT races. (Click here for information on how to sign up for Peacock.)
COMMAND TO START ENGINES: 6:23 PM ET
GREEN FLAG: 6:30 PM ET
POSTRACE SHOWS ON PEACOCK: After the race, an exclusive post-race show will air on Peacock with driver interviews, post-race analysis and the podium presentation. To watch the extended post-race show, click to the special stream on Peacock after the race.
INDYCAR RADION NETWORK: The IndyCar and Indy NXT races and all practice and qualifying sessions will be broadcast live on network partners, SiriusXM 160, racecontrol.indycar.com and the IndyCar app.
EXCERCISE: Friday 5pm (Peacock); Saturday, 1 p.m. (Peacock); Sunday, 3 p.m. warm-up (Peacock)
QUALIFYING: Saturday, 5:15 PM (Peacock)
RACE DISTANCE: The race lasts 95 laps (212.61 miles) on an 11-turn, 2.238-mile road circuit in Monterey, California
TIRE ASSIGNMENT: Six sets primary, four sets alternate for the weekend. Teams must use one set of primary and one new set of alternate tires in each race tire unless wet conditions are indicated. One additional set will be available during the first session of the weekend for teams fielding a rookie driver. Indy NXT: Three new sets to use during the race weekend. Two carryover sets from the Road America event may be used during Friday’s practice sessions.
PRESS TO GO: Total time 150 seconds with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation. The push-to-pass, which provides approximately 50 additional horsepower, is not available on the first start or on a restart unless it occurs in the last two laps or three minutes of a timed race. (Indy NXT: 150 seconds total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation.)
PREDICTION: Wunderground.com reports thisIt is expected to be 61 degrees with a 7% chance of rain at the green flag.
REGISTRATION LIST: Click here for the 27-car field in the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at Laguna Seca.
INDY NXT ENTRY LIST: Click here for the field with 20 cars.
INDYCAR LAGUNA SECA GP WEEKEND SCHEDULE
FRIDAY JUNE 21
11:30 AM – 12:10 PM: Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West practice
12:25-1:10 p.m: Radical Cup North America practice
2:05-2:45 p.m: Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West practice
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM: Radical Cup North America practice
4:10-4:35 PM: Indy NXT practice
5:00 PM – 6:15 PM: IndyCar practice
6:40 PM – 7:05 PM: Indy NXT practice
7:25 PM – 7:45 PM: Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West qualifying
8-8:25 PM: Radical Cup North America Qualifier
SATURDAY JUNE 22
Noon-12.30pm: Indy NXT Qualifier
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: IndyCar Training (Peacock)
2:20-3:00 PM: Radical Cup North America Race 1
3:35-4:30 p.m: Indy NXT Race 1 (Peacock)
5:15-6:45 p.m: IndyCar qualifying (Peacock)
7:00 PM – 7:40 PM: Porsche Sprint Challenge VS West Race 1
7:55-8:35 PM: Radical Cup North America Race 2
SUNDAY JUNE 23
12:40-1:20 pm: Porsche Sprint Cup Challenge VS West Race 2
1:45-2:25 p.m: Radical Cup North America Race 3
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM: IndyCar Warm-up (Peacock)
4:05 PM – 5:00 PM: Indy NXT Race 2 (Peacock)
6:30 PM: Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey (95 laps/212.61 miles, USA, Peacock)
SEASON RECAP 2024
ROUND 1: Josef Newgarden dominates in season opener l Results, points
$1 MILLION CHALLENGE: Alex Palou gets a big reward l Results
ROUND 2: Scott Dixon saves fuel superbly to win Long Beach l Results, points
ROUND 3: Scott McLaughlin wins from pole at Barber l Results, points
ROUND 4: Alex Palou wins again on the Indy road course l Results, points
ROUND 5: Josef Newgarden repeated winner at the Indy 500 l Results, points
ROUND 6: Scott Dixon wins another wild race in Detroit l Results, points
ROUND 7: Will Power ends Road America’s 34-race winless streak l Results, points
INDYCAR COVERAGE ON NBC SPORTS
Jamie Chadwick looks at IndyCar after the breakthrough of the Indy NXT
Arrow McLaren signs Nolan Siegel to a multi-year deal to drive number 6
Why Will Power’s win at Road America was special
Nolan Siegel replaces Agustin Canapino at Road America
Indy 500 legend Parnelli Jones dies at age 90
Helio Castroneves replaces Tom Blomqvist for two races
Exclusive conversation with Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden
The $4.2 million man of the Indy 500
Arrow McLaren and Pato O’Ward’s Indy 500: ‘Damn, this really hurts’
Kyle Larson on his disappointing effort at The Double
GM Motorsports Sees Lots of Crossover in Larson’s “Double”
Would IndyCar drivers ever attempt ‘The Double’ in reverse?
The logistics of Kyle Larson’s “Double” effort
The ringleader of the Indianapolis 500
Simon Pagenaud returns behind the wheel of an Indy car
NASCAR legend Rick Hendrick excited for the first Indy 500
Kyle Larson embraces Indy 500 traditions like milking cows
Incredible drama, enormous pressure during Indy 500 qualifying
IndyCar drivers have a lot of snark and insults after the Sonsio Grand Prix
An interview with Roger Penske prior to the 108th Indy 500
“There’s a lady attacking me”: IndyCar drivers respond to mannequin
Michael Andretti calls out Penske for push to pass scandal
“That’s a lie”: IndyCar responds to push-to-pass scandal
“I’m not a liar”: Emotional Josef Newgarden discusses ‘push to pass’ scandal
Despite suspensions, Will Power remains confident
Team Penske suspends four key team members for May
Myles Rowe focused on reaching IndyCar in 2025
Josef Newgarden disqualified from St. Pete GP; Pato O’Ward declared the winner
Kyle Larson “finally ready” to tackle the Indy 500
Katherine Legge back at the Indy 500 with Dale Coyne Racing and beauty brand sponsor
Prema Racing will join IndyCar with two cars for the 2025 season
Big facetime for Josef Newgarden at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Newgarden Passes Indy 500 Open Test; Kyle Larson second fastest
Christian Lundgaard is being courted by teams but has faith in Rahal
IndyCar reacts to the revelation of Pato O’Ward’s $10 million salary
Marcus Ericsson fits perfectly as the new face in the Andretti Global star trio
Six major issues facing IndyCar heading into the 2024 season
What’s new for IndyCar teams in 2024
Callum Ilott will replace David Malukas at St. Pete
Dale Coyne Racing announces lineup for season opener
IndyCar stars meet with Penske executives on big issues ahead of the 2024 season
Pato O’Ward signs contract extension with Arrow McLaren
Marcus Ericsson walks parade of new faces at Sebring preseason test
IndyCar unveils a host of changes, including adjustments for practice and restarts, lighter components, safety and hybrid details
Jon Bon Jovi leads the IndyCar field to the green flag for the season opener in St. Pete
Kyle Larson enjoys the old school feeling during the Phoenix IndyCar test
David Malukas was sidelined during the season opener due to an injury
Callum Ilott tests for Arrow McLaren instead of Malukas
IndyCar moves its season finale from downtown Nashville to the superspeedway
When will IndyCar return to the streets of downtown Nashville?
Scott Dixon and Alex Palou will race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans
HOW TO WATCH INDYCAR IN 2024: Complete NBC Sports schedule
