We Speak Cars & Racing

Five and Counting: Palou Seals a Fourth Straight IndyCar Crown as McLaughlin Owns the Laguna Seca Finale

Published

2 months ago

September 7, 2026

The 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season closed on Sunday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with the Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey — and while Scott McLaughlin owned the day, the season belonged to Alex Palou. The Chip Ganassi Racing star had already clinched the championship one week earlier at the Milwaukee Mile, the second straight year he secured the title before the season finale.

The numbers put Palou in rare air. This is his fifth IndyCar championship and his fourth consecutive — five titles in six years — moving the 29-year-old to third on the all-time championship list. His 2026 campaign produced six wins, 12 top-five finishes and 15 top-10s across 18 races, and he beat Kyle Kirkwood to the crown by 86 points. The title is also a record 18th for Chip Ganassi Racing, prompting owner Chip Ganassi’s line: “Like we say in Pittsburgh, this is one for the thumb.”

The finale itself belonged to McLaughlin. The Team Penske driver won from pole, led 87 of 95 laps on the 11-turn, 2.238-mile road course, and ended a 36-race winless drought stretching back to September 1, 2024, at Milwaukee. It was his eighth career win and Penske’s third victory of 2026. Kirkwood finished second, 1.3739 seconds back, sealing second in the championship — the best result of his career — while Alexander Rossi took third for his first podium of the season. Palou finished eighth.

The supporting storylines were just as rich. Dale Coyne Racing’s Dennis Hauger claimed Rookie of the Year despite being hit from behind on the opening lap of the finale. Honda swept the drivers’, manufacturers’ and rookie championships plus the Indianapolis 500 for the second straight year. Christian Lundgaard completed all 2,557 laps of the season — only the sixth driver in history to do so — and finished third in the standings. And the finale marked Scott Dixon’s last race with Ganassi after 25 years, 58 wins and six titles together; the team presented him with a Rolex during the weekend, and he finished 17th.

We Speak Cars & Racing

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias Brings His Classic VW Buses to LA Auto Show Industry Day

Published

2 days ago

October 23, 2026

Royal Jones

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias standing beside a classic Volkswagen bus from his personal collection

The LA Auto Show is adding some serious star power to Industry Day. Comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias will showcase five hand-selected classic Volkswagen buses from his famous personal collection at AutoMobility LA, the show’s industry and media day, on Thursday, November 19, and he will host meet-and-greets with attendees.

If you know Fluffy, you know the buses are no gimmick. Iglesias is one of the most devoted Volkswagen collectors in entertainment: his collection runs to nearly 30 classic buses, valued at around $3 million, and lives in a garage he calls the Fluffy Museum. It all started with his first car, a VW bus, and the obsession never left. He recently walked Ford CEO Jim Farley through the collection and the stories behind it on Ford’s DRIVE podcast.

For anyone who somehow missed him: Iglesias is one of the most successful stand-up comedians on the planet. His Netflix specials, including I’m Sorry for What I Said When I Was Hungry and Stadium Fluffy, made him the first comedian to sell out Dodger Stadium. He starred in the Netflix sitcom Mr. Iglesias and has voiced characters in Coco, Ferdinand and The Book of Life. A Fluffy appearance at an auto show is exactly where entertainment and car culture meet.

Industry Day will have plenty more on the floor. Attendees can see vehicles including the Chevy Silverado, the Rivian R2 and the Nissan Rogue, and get behind the wheel at Camp Jeep and Bronco Mountain, with test rides and drives running through the day.

The LA Auto Show says more entertainment news is coming soon, and media registration for Industry Day credentials is now open. We Speak Media will be following every announcement.