The Mission Grand Prix of Monterey is an IndyCar Series race held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca near Monterey, California, United States. Scott McLaughlin is the defending race winner.
History The event dates back to 1960, and has traditionally been held in the fall (September or October). The event was first held as a USAC Road Racing Championship race, following the success of the SCCA's Pebble Beach Road Races. After USAC's road racing series disbanded in 1962, the race became a non-championship sports car race for three years. The race then joined the Can-Am schedule for 1966–1973. After the demise of Can-Am in 1974, the event shifted to Formula 5000 for two years, then to IMSA for two more years. This race encompasses a separate history from another event at Laguna Seca, the sports car race traditionally held in the spring.
The revived Can-Am series returned from 1978 to 1982, after which time the event became a CART Indy car race. From 1983 to 2004, the CART race was held every year in September or October with the exception of 2002 and 2003 when it was briefly moved to June. The final CART/Champ Car race was held in 2004. Its spot on the calendar was shifted to San Jose.
In 1989 and 1991, the Marlboro Challenge all-star exhibition race was part of the CART race weekend. In 1991, Michael Andretti swept the weekend, winning both the Challenge on Saturday and Grand Prix on Sunday.
After a hiatus from 2005 to 2007, the race was set to return as part of the Champ Car World Series in 2008. However, after the 2008 open wheel unification, the race went back on hiatus. With the top-level Indy cars absent, and now competing instead at Sonoma, the Atlantic Championship briefly headlined at the track from 2008–2009. In 2015–2016, the track hosted the Mazda Road to Indy championship weekend. All three lower tiers of INDYCAR – Indy Lights, Pro Mazda, and U.S. F2000 participated in a standalone event. However, the top-level IndyCar Series still stayed away, and continued to race at Sonoma.
In 2018, a renewed effort to return Indy car racing to Laguna Seca was spearheaded by Monterey County and track officials. In their favor, the IndyCar races at Sonoma were said to be money-losers. Sonoma, which is also located in the Northern California region, is only about 150 miles north of Monterey by car. Sonoma held a "geographical exclusion" clause which effectively precluded IndyCar races from being held at both venues. In July 2018, it was announced that Sonoma would be removed from the IndyCar schedule after the 2018 season, and Laguna Seca would be added for 2019. The track signed an initial three-year deal and would take over the spot as the IndyCar season finale.
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the race was to become a doubleheader, however the pandemic got worse and on July 27, IndyCar officials announced the cancellation of the race for 2020.
Since 2025, multiple companies have taken over sponsorship rights for the race including Java House, and Mission Foods. In 2026, the race was moved to finale, replacing the race at Nashville Superspeedway and was originally scheduled to be titled the IndyCar Grand Prix of Monterey.
Past winners Year Date Driver Team Car Laps Distance Report CART/Champ Car World Series 1983 October 23 Teo Fabi Forsythe Racing March-Cosworth 98 report 1984 October 21 Bobby Rahal Truesports March-Cosworth 98 report 1985 October 6 Bobby Rahal (2) Truesports (2) March-Cosworth 98 report 1986 October 12 Bobby Rahal (3) Truesports (3) March-Cosworth 98 report 1987 October 11 Bobby Rahal (4) Truesports (4) Lola-Cosworth 98 report 1988 October 16 Danny Sullivan Team Penske Penske PC-17-Chevrolet A 84 report 1989 October 15 Rick Mears Team Penske (2) Penske PC-18-Chevrolet A 84 report 1990 October 21 Danny Sullivan (2) Marlboro Team Penske (3) Penske PC-19-Chevrolet A 84 report 1991 October 20 Michael Andretti Newman/Haas Racing Lola T9100-Chevrolet A 84 report 1992 October 18 Michael Andretti (2) Newman/Haas Racing (2) Lola T9200-Ford Cosworth XB 84 report 1993 October 3 Paul Tracy Marlboro Team Penske (4) Penske PC-22-Chevrolet C 84 report 1994 October 9 Paul Tracy (2) Marlboro Team Penske (5) Penske PC-23-Ilmor D 84 report 1995 September 10 Gil de Ferran Jim Hall Racing Reynard 95I-Mercedes-Benz 84 report 1996 September 8 Alex Zanardi Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard 96I-Honda 83 report 1997 September 7 Jimmy Vasser Chip Ganassi Racing (2) Reynard 97I-Honda 83 report 1998 September 13 Bryan Herta Team Rahal Reynard 98I-Ford Cosworth XD 83 report 1999 September 12 Bryan Herta (2) Team Rahal (2) Reynard 99I-Ford Cosworth XD 83 report 2000 September 10 Hélio Castroneves Marlboro Team Penske (6) Reynard 2KI-Honda 83 report 2001 October 14 Max Papis Team Rahal (3) Lola B01/00-Ford Cosworth XF 76 report 2002 June 9 Cristiano da Matta Newman-Haas Racing (3) Lola B02/00-Toyota 87 report 2003 June 15 Patrick Carpentier Forsythe Racing (2) Lola B02/00-Ford Cosworth XFE 87 report 2004 September 12 Patrick Carpentier (2) Forsythe Racing (3) Lola B02/00-Ford Cosworth XFE 79 report IndyCar Series 2019 September 22 Colton Herta Harding Steinbrenner Racing Dallara DW12/UAK18-Honda 90 report 2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2021 September 19 Colton Herta (2) Andretti Autosport with Curb Agajanian Dallara DW12/UAK18-Honda 95 report 2022 September 11 Álex Palou Chip Ganassi Racing (3) Dallara DW12/UAK18-Honda 95 report 2023 September 10 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing (4) Dallara DW12/UAK18-Honda 95 report 2024 June 23 Álex Palou (2) Chip Ganassi Racing (5) Dallara DW12/UAK18-Honda 95 report 2025 July 27 Álex Palou (3) Chip Ganassi Racing (6) Dallara DW12/UAK18-Honda 95 report 2026 September 6 Scott McLaughlin Team Penske (7) Dallara DW12/UAK18-Chevrolet 95 report
From 1983 to 1987, the course was . From 1988 to 1995, the course was . From 1996 onward, the course is . The 2001 race was scheduled for 83 laps but was shortened to 76 laps due to a 2-hour time limit. The 2004 race was scheduled for 80 laps but was shortened to 79 laps due to a 1-hour, 45 minute time limit.
Other winners Year Date Driver Team Car Distance Report USAC Road Racing Championship 1960 October 23 Stirling Moss British Racing Partnership, Ltd. Lotus 19-Climax report 1961 October 22 Stirling Moss UDT-Laystall Racing Team Lotus 19-Climax report 1962 October 21 Roger Penske Updraught Enterprises, Inc. Cooper T53-Climax report Non-Championship 1963 October 20 Dave MacDonald Shelby American Shelby Cooper-Ford report 1964 October 18 Roger Penske Chaparral Cars Chaparral 2A-Chevrolet report 1965 October 17 Walt Hansgen John Mecom Lola T70-Ford report Can-Am 1966 October 16 Phil Hill Chaparral Cars Chaparral 2E-Chevrolet report 1967 October 15 Bruce McLaren Bruce McLaren Motor Racing McLaren M6A-Chevrolet report 1968 October 13 John Cannon John Cannon McLaren M1B-Chevrolet report 1969 October 12 Bruce McLaren Bruce McLaren Motor Racing McLaren M8B-Chevrolet report 1970 October 18 Denny Hulme Bruce McLaren Motor Racing McLaren M8D-Chevrolet report 1971 October 17 Peter Revson McLaren Cars Ltd. McLaren M8F-Chevrolet report 1972 October 15 George Follmer Roger Penske Porsche 917/10 report 1973 October 14 Mark Donohue Roger Penske Enterprises Porsche 917/30 report Formula 5000 1974 October 13 Brian Redman N/A Lola T332-Chevrolet report 1975 October 12 Mario Andretti Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet report IMSA GT Championship 1976 October 3 Jim Busby Busby Racing Porsche Carrera report 1977 October 9 David Hobbs McLaren North America BMW 320i Turbo report Can-Am 1978 October 8 Al Holbert Hogan Racing Lola T333CS-Chevrolet report 1979 October 14 Bobby Rahal U.S. Racing Prophet-Chevrolet report 1980 October 19 Al Unser Sr. Brad Frisselle Racing Frissbee-Chevrolet report 1981 October 12 Teo Fabi Paul Newman Racing March 817-Chevrolet report 1982 October 10 Al Unser Jr. Galles Racing Frissbee-Galles GR3-Chevrolet report
Support winners
CART American Racing Series Season Winning driver 1986 Fabrizio Barbazza 1987 Dave Simpson 1988 Tommy Byrne 1989 Johnny O'Connell 1990 Ted PrappasCART Firestone/PPG/Dayton Indy Lights Series 1991 Mark Smith 1992 Robbie Groff 1993 Bryan Herta 1994 André Ribeiro 1995 Greg Moore 1996 Tony Kanaan 1997 Cristiano da Matta 1998 Didier André 1999 Didier André 2000 Scott Dixon 2001 Townsend BellIndyCar Indy Lights 2015 Spencer Pigot Spencer Pigot 2016 Kyle Kaiser Zach Veach 2019 Rinus VeeKay Rinus VeeKay2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2021 Kyle Kirkwood Kyle Kirkwood 2022 Sting Ray Robb Christian Rasmussen2023 Hunter McElrea Christian Rasmussen2024 Louis Foster Louis Foster2025 Caio Collet Caio Collet2026 Josh Pierson Tymek Kucharczyk
Star Mazda Championship Season Winning driver 2000 Grant Ryley 2001 Scott Bradley Marc De Vellis 2002 Moses Smith 2003 Luis Schiavo Moses Smith 2004 Luis Schiavo 2005 James Hinchcliffe 2006 Ryan Justice 2007 Alex Ardoin 2008 Richard Kent 2009 Adam Christodoulou 2010 Conor Daly 2011 Connor De Phillippi 2012 Jack Hawksworth Gabby ChavesPro Mazda Championship 2015 Garett Grist Garett Grist 2016 Patricio O'Ward Nicolas Dapero Aaron TelitzIndy Pro 2000 Championship 2019 Kyle Kirkwood Rasmus Lindh 2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Formula Ford 2000 Championship Season Winning driver 1991 Curtis Farley Craig Taylor Craig Taylor 1993 David DeSilva Doug Boyer 2004 Ian Lacy Ian LacyU.S. F2000 National Championship 2010 Scott Rarick Mikhail Goikhberg 2013 Alex Baron Scott Hargrove 2015 Nico Jamin Nico Jamin 2016 Victor Franzoni Victor Franzoni 2019 Christian Rasmussen Braden Eves 2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Atlantic Championship Season Winning driver 1976 Gilles Villeneuve Price Cobb 1984 John David Briggs 1985 John David Briggs 1986 Ted Prappas Tom Phillips 1987 Johnny O'Connell Jimmy Vasser 1988 Mitch Thieman 1990 Mark Dismore Mark Dismore Mark Dismore 1991 John Tanner Jimmy Vasser 1992 Mark Dismore Mark Dismore 1993 Jacques Villeneuve Jacques Villeneuve 1994 Richie Hearn 1995 Case Montgomery 1996 Patrick Carpentier 1997 Alex Barron 1998 Anthony Lazzaro 1999 Anthony Lazzaro 2000 Dan Wheldon 2001 Rocky Moran Jr. 2002 Ryan Hunter-Reay 2003 A. J. Allmendinger 2004 Jon Fogarty 2008 James Hinchcliffe 2009 John Edwards
CART Marlboro Challenge Season Date Winning driver 1989 October 14 Al Unser Jr. 1991 October 19 Michael Andretti
Race summaries CART PPG Indy Car World Series
1983: In front of a crowd of 50,000 spectators, the CART series visited Laguna Seca for the first time in 1983. It was the second-to-last race of the season. The focus of attention going into the race was the championship battle between Al Unser and rookie Teo Fabi. Unser (137) led Fabi (102) by 35 points, and could wrap up the title with a 5th-place finish or better. Fabi qualified for the pole position, and proceeded to dominate the weekend. Fabi led 95 of the 98 laps, only giving up the lead for a few hundred feet after a restart on lap 29, and during a sequence of pit stops on lap 63–65. Fabi beat second place Mario Andretti by 22-seconds at the finish line. Meanwhile, points leader Al Unser broke a halfshaft with 11 laps to go and dropped to 11th place at the finish. Fabi narrowed the points lead, sending the championship battle to the finale at Phoenix. Fabi also clinched the 1983 CART rookie of the year award. Two controversies flared up during qualifying on Saturday. Johnny Rutherford's qualifying speed was thrown out after officials found a taped-over pop-off valve. The team declined a provisional, and Rutherford sat out the race. With Fabi (120.169 mph) on the pole, and Chip Ganassi (118.746 mph) second, officials later discovered that they had overlooked Derek Daly's best lap of the day. Daly had turned a lap of 119.048 mph, and officials corrected the error, elevating him to second on the grid, and bumping Ganassi back to row two.