I-5 was packed, entry lines were long and the aura of race day filled Portland International Raceway early Sunday morning. With clear skies and a scorching hot sun heating up the grid, racing teams across the pit-lanes spent the majority of their time preparing tires, ensuring each set could last the distance.
After winning last year’s Portland Grand Prix, Penske’s Will Power took home his second consecutive victory at Portland International Raceway. Penske Racing was relieved after risking its first winless season since 1999 with two races to go.
“Strategically, we raced very well. We knew based on where we came out, we would have a chance later on,” Power said. “I feel good for the whole team, where we stand in the championship is indicative.”
Greatness is hard to ignore. Although he finished third, Alex Palou became the fourth driver in IndyCar Series history to win three championships in a row, clinching his three-peat Sunday in Portland with two races to go, having arguably the best IndyCar season of all time. Palou won his fourth drivers’ championship since 2021. This season, winning eight races, five poles, 12 top fives and an Indy500 win with two races left.
“I love the sport, I love working with my team. It's not really about championships and numbers, obviously, that’s a big part, we love that. What we love is coming to each track and winning,” Palou said.
It was 86 degrees Fahrenheit when the green flag waved, causing a hectic start, including broadcasting delays and an early crash from Santino Ferrucci coming around turn 12, spinning out and crashing hard into the pit wall on lap three. Yellow flags were waived for track debris. After starting in pole position, Pato O’Ward’s Mclaren lost power heading down the back straight, slowly coasting into the pit lane on lap 21. The car was retired, but O’Ward would still finish 25th after receiving a replacement car to finish Sunday’s race.
Power led with five laps to go, holding off Christian Lundgaard and championship leader Palou. That's when Palou, in third, risked going on the outside of Lundgaard and lost control of his car temporarily, running over the curb and into the gravel between turns six and seven. Quickly and instinctively diverting the car back onto the track to complete his historical championship season.
Portland race weekend proved why Palou is so dominant. He’s quickly becoming one of the next great IndyCar Series racers. He joins Ted Horn, Sebastien Bourdais and Dario Franchitti as the fourth driver in IndyCar Series history to win three consecutive championships. He’s tied third for most championships in the series history with Marco Andretti, Bourdais and Franchitti.
With two races to go and a championship clinched, eyes shift to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for the following race on Aug. 24.