In 2005, American open wheel racing returned to the circuit with an IndyCar Series event.

It marked the record youngest winner (19 years, 5 months, 14 days) of a major open-wheel racing event at the time.

The IndyCar Series race utilizes a modified 2.2-mile (3.5 km) version of the road course, the same used by AMA Superbike.

The circuit includes the carousel, making it longer than the NASCAR layout, but shorter than the full 2.52-mile (4.06 km) course.

It was announced on July 13, 2018, that the Monterey Grand Prix at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca would replace Sonoma for the 2019 IndyCar Series season.