Alex Palou Extends IndyCar Championship Lead with Commanding Win at Portland Grand Prix

Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou dominated the Grand Prix of Portland, treating the 1.964-mile natural road course like his personal playground en route to a commanding victory.

Starting second, Palou executed a strategic overcut during the opening green-flag pit stops, jumping into the lead and going on to lead 60 of 110 laps. His 4.1167-second margin of victory marked his 25th career win, his third at Portland, and his sixth of the season.

“Everybody at CGR and Honda, they did an incredible job,” Palou said. “I had an absolutely rocket ship today. It was very, very nice to drive every single lap.” He added about his tire strategy, “I was a little bit worried there when we put those alternates; they were so good. I was like, ‘Man, if somebody’s gonna keep them for the end, we might have a battle.’ But yeah, once again, everybody did an incredible job in the #10 car.”

Pole-sitter Felix Rosenqvist crossed the finish second in the #60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda, with Andretti Global’s Will Power third. Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Rinus VeeKay was fourth and another Andretti Global driver, Kyle Kirkwood, completed the top five.

The victory not only extended Palou’s championship advantage but also solidified his position at the top of the standings, now holding an 110-point lead over Kirkwood. Team Penske’s David Malukas, finishing 12th, trails by 118 points.

The race

Rosenqvist led the field to the green flag, with Palou attempting an outside pass into Turn 1 before settling in behind. Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard, who started 25th and last, gained six positions on the opening lap.

Marcus Ericsson, running on the softer alternate compound, delivered a late pass on Palou—who was on the harder primary tires—into Turn 1 on Lap 4 to move into second place. Meanwhile, Lundgaard continued his charge forward, climbing to 15th.

A caution flew on Lap 7 after the #15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda of Graham Rahal ran wide at Turn 11 and slid into the tire barrier at Turn 12, eventually rejoining the track via the escape road.

The restart on Lap 9 saw Rosenqvist jump out to a gap over Ericsson.

Through the opening 20 laps, Rosenqvist held a 0.8-second lead over Ericsson, with Palou 1.8 seconds back. Andretti Global’s Will Power sat fourth, 3.9 seconds behind, and Juncos Hollinger Racing’s VeeKay was fifth at 5.3 seconds back.

Ericsson’s softer tires began to fade by Lap 24, dropping 0.8 seconds to Rosenqvist before he pitted. Kyle Kirkwood, Scott Dixon, and Grosjean also made stops during the cycle. Meanwhile, the race’s biggest mover, Lundgaard, continued progress directly behind Dixon.

Rosenqvist and Power stayed out until Lap 32, while Palou remained parked out a lap longer. By virtue of the overcut, Palou jumped ahead of Rosenqvist. Drivers who had pitted under the earlier caution—including Newgarden and Ferrucci—cycled to the front.

Marcus Armstrong encountered an engine issue and retired early. Ferrucci pitted on Lap 35. Newgarden relinquished the lead on Lap 37, allowing Palou into the top spot.

Palou began posting quick laps and extended his advantage to over 6 seconds by Lap 45, with Rosenqvist in second.

Pato O’Ward was forced into an unscheduled pit stop with a right-front vibration caused by tire blistering, dropping him to 22nd.

Palou pitted on Lap 56, handing the lead to Rosenqvist, who stopped four laps later. Power took over the race lead as a result, but pitted the next lap as the cycle continued. Newgarden assumed the lead, with Palou in second. Once Newgarden pitted a few laps later, Palou retook the lead, operating on a set of the harder primaries while Rosenqvist had the softer alternates.

Rosenqvist began to close on Palou’s lead, reducing it to 2.3 seconds by Lap 72.

Kirkwood pitted from fourth on Lap 79, citing concerns over air pressure loss with his left-front. Palou lost time behind Louis Foster’s freshly pitted No. 47 RLL Honda, allowing Rosenqvist to close to within 0.7 seconds. Palou eventually cleared Foster, who then delayed Rosenqvist before the Swede made his final stop with 29 laps remaining. Palou pitted the next lap to cover. Both drivers were left to run the final stint on primaries.

Power took over the race lead and stayed out long, catching backmarker traffic and missing the initial pit call.

The cycle saw Palou return to the lead with a 3.3-second advantage over Rosenqvist, with Power a distant third, 7.7 seconds back.

With 15 laps to go, Palou held a 5.7-second gap over Rosenqvist, who faced pressure from Power on fresh softer alternates.

The top 10 with five laps remaining comprised Palou, Rosenqvist, Power, VeeKay, Kirkwood, Ericsson, Scott McLaughlin, Newgarden, Simpson, and Lundgaard.

Palou controlled the closing laps to take the checkered flag 4.1167 seconds ahead of Rosenqvist, with Power third. VeeKay and Kirkwood rounded out the top five, followed by Ericsson, McLaughlin, Newgarden, Simpson, and Lundgaard.

Source link