McLaughlin in this race o [ an 11-turn, 2.238-mile road course- AutoCrat] only trailed during pit stop episodes. McLaughlin led 87 of 95 laps.

This cursory view, however, slights the 2026 Honda season [It was the second time since the return of multi-manufacturer competition in 2012 that any engine manufacturer has swept all three championships and the Indianapolis 500 in the same season, the first being Honda’s sweep of all four in 2025 – AutoCrat.]

Kyle Kirkwood led Honda drivers at the Mission Grand Prix of Monterey—scoring a second-place finish in the race and securing P2 in the drivers’ championship in the final race of the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season.

The Andretti Global driver scored two victories on the year on the journey to his second-place championship finish, winning in two of the inaugural races this season, the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington and the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington DC. This is the Floridian’s best-ever championship finishing position in NTT IndyCar Series competition.

This is the third time in four years Honda has claimed first and second in the drivers’ championship. Honda also completed its sweep of all three championships and the Indy 500 for 2026 by locking up the rookie of the year title with Dennis Hauger for Dale Coyne Racing. This is Honda’s 12th rookie of the year title in the last 14 seasons.

Honda wrapped up two NTT IndyCar Series championships going into the final race of the season, clinching both the manufacturers’ and drivers’ titles last weekend Milwaukee. The manufacturer’s Indianapolis 500 triumph came at the hands of Felix Rosenqvist back in May.

The 2027 NTT IndyCar Series season opens Sunday 7 March on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. It promises another season of intrepid driver and engine maker battles.