Paulo led 84 of the 95 laps, Palou won on the famous California road course with its downhill corkscrew turn for the second consecutive year, both from the pole, –his third win at Laguna Seca in the past four years.

Palou leads the NTT IndyCar Series championship with three races to go for the fourth time in his IndyCar Series Career. Palou also led the championship with three races to go in 2021, 2023 and 2024, when he won the title. Palou has led the point standings since the beginning of the season.

IndyCar said “the winner of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge still has work to do to clinch his third consecutive series championship and fourth in five years, but the effort required will be minimal. Effectively, O’Ward needs to win out for Palou to be threatened. Everyone else has been eliminated from contention.”