WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

Track Info

Location	Monterey, California
Type	Permanent Road Course
Length	2.238 miles (3.602 km)
Turns	11
Surface	Asphalt
Elevation Change	300 feet (91 meters) total
Capacity	~30,000+ (grandstands + extensive hillside viewing)
Opened	1957

Track Characteristics

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is one of the most iconic racing circuits in the world, and it serves as IndyCar's season finale - a fitting conclusion to the championship at one of motorsport's most revered venues. The 2.238-mile, 11-turn circuit sits in the hills above Monterey, California, about 10 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, and features a staggering 300 feet of total elevation change that makes it feel more like a roller coaster than a racetrack.

The Corkscrew at Turns 8 and 8A is the track's legendary signature corner and one of the most famous turns in all of motorsport. Drivers approach over a blind crest with no visual reference for the turn-in point, then plunge 59 feet - the equivalent of a 5.5-story building - in just 450 feet of track. The elevation drop at Turn 8 is a 12 percent grade, steepening to 18 percent at the apex of Turn 8A. Getting the Corkscrew right requires absolute trust in your reference points and complete commitment.

Beyond the Corkscrew, Laguna Seca offers a complete challenge. Turn 2 (a fast downhill right-hander), the uphill climb through Turns 3-5, and the technical Turns 9-11 complex all demand different skills. The circuit rewards bravery through the fast sections and patience through the slow ones. As a championship finale, the pressure of the title fight combined with the track's unforgiving nature produces some of the most dramatic racing of the season.

Getting There

Nearest Airport	Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) - approximately 10 miles west. San Jose International Airport (SJC) is about 75 miles north. San Francisco International (SFO) is about 120 miles north.
Nearest City	Monterey, CA (about 10 miles west). Salinas is approximately 10 miles east. The track sits within the Laguna Seca Recreation Area.

Series That Race Here

• NTT IndyCar Series - Season finale
• IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
• MotoAmerica Superbike Championship
• Historic: AMA Superbike Championship, Monterey Motorsports Reunion

2026 Event Info

Race Name	IndyCar Grand Prix of Monterey
Round	Season Finale (after Milwaukee doubleheader)
Date	September 6, 2026
TV	FOX
Race Time	2:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM PT
Qualifying	Firestone Fast 6 knockout format

Track Record

Note	IndyCar qualifying laps at Laguna Seca typically run in the 1:10-1:12 range

Notable Past Races

• 2023: Alex Palou clinched his second IndyCar championship at Laguna Seca with a calculated drive, adding to Chip Ganassi Racing's dominance at this venue.
• 2022: Will Power clinched the IndyCar championship at Laguna Seca, capping a remarkable season with a tension-filled finale on the Monterey coast.
• 2019: Colton Herta won the Laguna Seca finale in stunning fashion, cementing his status as one of IndyCar's most exciting young talents on one of its most demanding tracks.
• 1996 (MotoGP): Valentino Rossi made his legendary pass on Casey Stoner through the Corkscrew at the 2008 MotoGP race - perhaps the most famous overtake in motorcycle racing history. While not an IndyCar moment, it defines the corner's mythology.
• 1957: The inaugural race at Laguna Seca drew 35,000 paying spectators to an SCCA National event, beginning nearly seven decades of racing history.

Track Facts

• The Corkscrew drops 59 feet in just 450 feet of track - the equivalent of falling 5.5 stories. At the Turn 8A apex, the grade reaches an 18 percent drop.
• The track has 300 feet of total elevation change across its 2.238-mile layout, making it one of the hilliest circuits in North American motorsport.
• Laguna Seca opened on November 9, 1957, and has been in continuous operation for nearly seven decades.
• The facility sits within the Laguna Seca Recreation Area, just 10 miles inland from the beautiful Monterey coast and Pebble Beach.
• The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, held annually at Laguna Seca, is one of the world's most prestigious historic racing events, featuring priceless vintage cars on the same layout IndyCar uses.

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