2024 Monterey GP Odds: Palou the favorite in Laguna Seca
The defending champion could be in for another win in Monterey this weekend.
Road America marked the end of a long winning drought for two-time IndyCar Series champion Will Power. The Team Penske driver outdueled teammate Josef Newgarden for his first win since 2022.
This week, the IndyCar Series continues its stretch of road courses with a trip to one of the most iconic courses on the calendar: Laguna Seca. The 2024 Monterey GP Odds point to a familiar face leading the way among the favorites.
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2024 Monterey GP Odds: Favorites
Álex Palou (+300)
Palou bounced back from his worst result of the season in Detroit with fourth place in Road America. That finish marked his seventh top-five result from eight races – including the non-championship race victory in Thermal – a statistic no one can match this season.
The defending champion has never finished outside the top three at Laguna Seca. He won in 2022 and finished third last season, making him a fitting favorite for the IndyCar race today.
Josef Newgarden (+450)
Newgarden continued his climb back up the IndyCar standings with second place last weekend. Things have been very boom-or-bust for the two-time champion this season. In the last five races, he’s either finished in the top two (Indy 500 and Road America) or outside the top 15 (Alabama, Sonsio Grand Prix, and Detroit).
His track record in Laguna Seca is good but not spectacular. He struggled last year and finished 21st after starting fourth on the grid. In 2022, he drove a stellar race from 25th to second by the checkered flag. His odds are short considering that track record and recent performance, but he’ll likely be near the front.
Scott McLaughlin (+600)
McLaughlin made it a Team Penske 1-2-3 in Road America with third place, his third podium of the IndyCar schedule. He’s now racked up four top-six results in the last five races and continues to move up the standings after his disqualification in St. Petersburg.
McLaughlin had a solid race last season in Monterey. He started and finished second behind Scott Dixon. Given his recent form, he is a good pick for a strong result this weekend.
Pato O’Ward (+700)
O’Ward is rounding into better form following his third straight top-10 finish with eighth in Road America. He’s in fourth in the championship but 41 points behind Dixon for third.
His Arrow McLaren team made IndyCar news this week with a surprise driver change, but that shouldn’t affect him.
O’Ward has always finished in the top 10 at Laguna Seca in his IndyCar career but never higher than fifth. He’s a near-lock for the top 10 but a win may be a bit of a big ask.
Colton Herta (+700)
Herta had a solid race in Road America. His sixth-place finish marks his best result since finishing second in Long Beach and bodes well for another road course this weekend.
Herta’s the top driver in the field at Laguna Seca. He won the race there in 2019 and 2021 in pretty dominant fashion from pole position. He’s struggled more recently, though.
Last year he did not finish after contact ended his race on Lap 81. A year earlier, he finished 11th from 18th on the starting grid. It’s hard to tell how he’ll fare this weekend but another win would not be a surprise.
Sleepers
Scott Dixon (+1000)
Another week, another great opportunity for Dixon as a sleeper pick. The second-winningest driver in IndyCar history had a rough outing last week in Road America. He finished 21st for his worst result of the season.
He could easily bounce back this weekend. Dixon won from 11th on the grid last year. In 2019, he finished third. He’s better at road courses than his result in Road America conveyed.
Christian Lundgaard (+1800)
Lundgaard finished 11th for the second week in a row in Road America. It’s a slight drop off from earlier in the season when he finished sixth in Alabama and third at the Sonsio Grand Prix.
But he could be a surprise this weekend. Laguna Seca is one of his better tracks on the calendar. He qualified third last year and finished sixth after racing to fifth from 16th on the grid in 2022.
Felix Rosenqvist (+1800)
Rosenqvist is quietly having a solid season in 2024. His 14th-place result in Road America was one of his worst of the year. In other road courses, he’s been much better with fourth in Alabama, third in Thermal, and 10th at the Sonsio Grand Prix.
He took pole position for this race last year but was 19th by the finish. He finished in the top five in 2019 and 2022. At these IndyCar odds, he’s worth a flyer for sure.
Roman Grosjean (+5000)
Grosjean is a very long shot this weekend for good reason. Road America marked just his second top-10 result of the season with seventh. But he’s raced very well at Laguna Seca in prior years.
He finished on the podium in 2021 and seventh in 2022. At these odds, he’s a low-risk, high-payout bet that could come through.
2024 Monterey GP Odds: Predictions
Of the favorites this weekend in Monterey, we like Palou (+300) to get another win. His record at this track and this year is just too good not to choose. If you want a slightly better payout, look for McLaughlin (+600) to get the win.
Of the sleepers, we like Rosenqvist (+1800). His pole position last year, solid results so far in 2024, and track record in Laguna Seca make him a good choice for a better payout.
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