Race Report: 2021 Grand Prix of Portland

2021 Grand Prix of Portland logo

Portland International Raceway
Sept. 12, 2021

Use the tabs or menu above to view session results, schedule, entrant facts, weather forecast, track facts and history.

Race Top Five

RankDriverCar No.Laps LedPoints
1Alex Palou102952
2Alexander Rossi27-40
3Scott Dixon9436
4Jack Harvey60533
5Josef Newgarden2-30

View the Results tab for full results.

Post-Race

Box ScoreView PDF
Event SummaryView PDF
Lap ChartView PDF
Leader Lap SummaryView PDF
Pit Stop SummaryView PDF
Top Section TimesView PDF
Section ResultsView PDF

Sessions

Results

Race

RankDriverCar No.StartLapsTotal TimeLaps LedStatusPointsAvg. SpeedPit Stops
1Alex Palou10111002:07:04.130429Running52102.0113
2Alexander Rossi27211002:07:05.4199-Running40101.9943
3Scott Dixon9311002:07:08.57104Running36101.9513
4Jack Harvey602011002:07:12.35125Running33101.9012
5Josef Newgarden21811002:07:13.0870-Running30101.8912
6Felix Rosenqvist7411002:07:13.4535-Running28101.8863
7Marcus Ericsson81011002:07:14.47291Running27101.8733
8Colton Herta26611002:07:16.3932-Running24101.8473
9Scott McLaughlin31511002:07:18.07425Running23101.8253
10Graham Rahal15511002:07:21.675336Running23101.7772
11Ed Jones18811002:07:22.28942Running20101.7682
12Takuma Sato302611002:07:22.8817-Running18101.7612
13Will Power121411002:07:23.9616-Running17101.7467
14Pato O'Ward5711002:07:24.979828Running17101.7333
15Ryan Hunter-Reay282711002:07:29.6940-Running15101.6703
16Conor Daly201611002:07:31.5276-Running14101.6463
17Rinus VeeKay212511002:07:36.0765-Running13101.5853
18Sebastien Bourdais141211002:07:36.5563-Running12101.5793
19Max Chilton591111002:07:37.4201-Running11101.5673
20Jimmie Johnson482211002:07:37.8330-Running10101.5624
21Simon Pagenaud222310902:07:39.5007-Running9100.6173
22Romain Grosjean51219502:07:38.7012-Running887.7035
23Helio Castroneves6179102:07:45.4317-Running783.9364
24Oliver Askew4598901:44:22.5870-Contact6100.4803
25Callum Ilott77197701:54:20.7076-Mechanical579.3534
26Dalton Kellett4245000:59:22.6270-Mechanical599.2301
27James Hinchcliffe2913101:05:48.9461-Contact51.7900
— Race: Results (PDF) | Back to the session list

Session Notes

Session Notes:

  • Just before the green flag, the ambient temperature at Portland International Raceway was 70 degrees with 55% relative humidity and overcast skies. The track temperature was 86 degrees according to Firestone engineers.
  • The race was 110 laps on the 1.964-mile circuit totaling 216.04 miles. The pit road speed was 50 mph and the pit window was approximately 28–33 laps under green-flag conditions.
  • On Lap 1, pole sitter Alex Palou led the field to the green. Contact between second-row starter Scott Dixon and Felix Rosqvist sent all three through the Turn 1 runoff. Further back, a multi-car incident involving Romain Grosjean, Oliver Askew, Helio Castroneves and Will Power brought out the race's first caution.
  • For shortcutting the track, Palou, Dixon, Rosenqvist and others were shuffled back to the middle of the pack, spromoting Pato O'Ward to the race lead.
  • The race's second caution flag flew on Lap 51 when Dalton Kellett stopped on course in the Turn 1 runoff and Callum Ilott stopped in Turn 7.
  • Lap 86 saw the third yellow flag of the race when Simon Pagenaud spun in Turn 8 after making contact with teammate Will Power.
  • After the restart, a spin for Oliver Askew in Turn 2 brought out the race's fourth and final full-course caution with Askew's car stalled on track.
  • Having rebounded from his Lap 1 misfortune, Palou went on to lead 29 laps — second most behind Graham Rahal who led 36 laps — and cruised to victory ahead of Alexander Rossi in second and Dixon in third.
  • Palou's margin of victory was 1.2895 seconds. The win marked the Chip Ganassi Racing driver's third victory of 2021. He also won at Barber Motorsports Park and Road America.
  • The results shuffled the championship battle, with Palou retaking the points lead.
  • Unofficial points after the Grand Prix of Portland:
    • Palou: 477
    • O'Ward: 452 (-25)
    • Newgarden: 443 (-34)
    • Dixon: 428 (-49)
    • Ericsson: 402 (-75)
    • Herta: 348 (-129)
    • Rahal: 342 (-135)
    • Power: 332 (-145)
    • Pagenaud: 329 (-148)
    • Rossi: 299 (-178)

Warm-Up

RankDriverCar No.Best TimeOn LapBest SpeedTotal LapsDifferenceGap
1Scott Dixon900:59.411119119.00822--.------.----
2Josef Newgarden200:59.629621118.572240.21850.2185
3Ed Jones1800:59.640322118.551230.22920.0107
4Alex Palou1000:59.746711118.340210.33560.1064
5Jack Harvey6000:59.897612118.041170.48650.1509
6Graham Rahal1500:59.901918118.033210.49080.0043
7Takuma Sato3001:00.088012117.667200.67690.1861
8Alexander Rossi2701:00.216212117.417180.80510.1282
9Oliver Askew4501:00.230311117.389260.81920.0141
10Rinus VeeKay2101:00.261110117.329240.85000.0308
11Colton Herta2601:00.300113117.254190.88900.0390
12Will Power1201:00.309518117.235230.89840.0094
13Scott McLaughlin301:00.391621117.076240.98050.0821
14Max Chilton5901:00.426718117.008251.01560.0351
15Conor Daly2001:00.442211116.978231.03110.0155
16Pato O'Ward501:00.452915116.957231.04180.0107
17Felix Rosenqvist701:00.529911116.808221.11880.0770
18Marcus Ericsson801:00.571015116.729211.15990.0411
19Sebastien Bourdais1401:00.587112116.698221.17600.0161
20Ryan Hunter-Reay2801:00.597314116.678191.18620.0102
21Helio Castroneves601:00.613312116.648211.20220.0160
22Romain Grosjean5101:00.668522116.542261.25740.0552
23Dalton Kellett401:00.710212116.461221.29910.0417
24Simon Pagenaud2201:00.741624116.401251.33050.0314
25James Hinchcliffe2901:01.194915115.539191.78380.4533
26Jimmie Johnson4801:01.482713114.998152.07160.2878
27Callum Ilott7701:01.518721114.931252.10760.0360
— Warm-up: Results | Back to the session list

Qualifying

Firestone Fast Six
RankDriverCar No.Best TimeBest SpeedBest LapTotal LapsDifferenceGap
1Alex Palou1000:58.7701120.30644--.------.----
2Alexander Rossi2700:58.8573120.128330.08720.0872
3Scott Dixon900:58.8673120.107340.09720.0100
4Felix Rosenqvist700:58.9505119.938330.18040.0832
5Graham Rahal1500:59.0067119.824440.23660.0562
6Colton Herta2600:59.2796119.272440.50950.2729
— Firestone Fast Six: Results (PDF) | Overall Results (PDF) | Back to session list

Session Notes:

  • Qualifying at Portland International Raceway was without incident.
  • In Round 1 Group 1 qualifying, Romain Grosjean was judged by Race Control to have interfered with another driver's qualifying. The interference penalty stripped the driver of the No. 51 Dale Coyne Racing with RWR Honda of his two fastest laps and denied him the opportunity to advance to Round 2.
  • In Round 1 Group 2 qualifying, Jimmie Johnson took an additional lap after the checkered flag and was assessed a five-minute time penalty to be served at the end of the 30-minute warm-up session.
  • In the Firestone Fast Six, Alex Palou's fastest lap was enough to secure the Chip Ganassi Racing driver his first career NTT IndyCar Series pole. With the bonus point, Palou now stands nine points behind championship leader Pato O'Ward.

Round 2
RankDriverCar No.Best TimeBest SpeedBest LapTotal LapsDifferenceGap
1Alex Palou1000:58.7691120.30888--.------.----
2Scott Dixon900:58.8200120.204880.05090.0509
3Graham Rahal1500:58.9338119.972880.16470.1138
4Colton Herta2600:58.9459119.947670.17680.0121
5Alexander Rossi2700:58.9571119.924880.18800.0112
6Felix Rosenqvist700:58.9629119.913880.19380.0058
7Pato O'Ward500:58.9732119.892780.20410.0103
8Ed Jones1800:59.0247119.787880.25560.0515
9Oliver Askew4500:59.0837119.668780.31460.0590
10Marcus Ericsson800:59.0901119.655880.32100.0064
11Max Chilton5900:59.2346119.363580.46550.1445
12Sebastien Bourdais1400:59.2419119.348780.47280.0073
— Round 2: Results (PDF) | Back to session list

Round 1 Group 2
RankDriverCar No.Best TimeBest SpeedBest LapTotal LapsDifferenceGap
1Felix Rosenqvist700:58.6912120.46888--.------.----
2Alex Palou1000:58.7971120.251880.10590.1059
3Colton Herta2600:58.8450120.153780.15380.0479
4Scott Dixon900:58.8684120.105880.17720.0234
5Ed Jones1800:58.9330119.974780.24180.0646
6Sebastien Bourdais1400:58.9390119.961880.24780.0060
7Will Power1200:59.0032119.831880.31200.0642
8Conor Daly2000:59.0974119.640780.40620.0942
9Josef Newgarden200:59.1371119.559990.44590.0397
10Jack Harvey6000:59.1463119.541680.45510.0092
11Rinus VeeKay2100:59.1885119.456780.49730.0422
12Takuma Sato3000:59.1953119.442880.50410.0068
13Simon Pagenaud2200:59.6591118.513880.96790.4638
14Dalton Kellett400:59.7438118.345881.05260.0847
— Round 1 Group 2: Results (PDF) | Back to session list

Round 1 Group 1
RankDriverCar No.Best TimeBest SpeedBest LapTotal LapsDifferenceGap
1Marcus Ericsson800:58.8094120.22678--.------.----
2Graham Rahal1500:58.9369119.966880.12750.1275
3Alexander Rossi2700:59.0177119.801880.20830.0808
4Max Chilton5900:59.0735119.688580.26410.0558
5Oliver Askew4500:59.1960119.441880.38660.1225
6Pato O'Ward500:59.2142119.404880.40480.0182
7James Hinchcliffe2900:59.2537119.324480.44430.0395
8Scott McLaughlin300:59.3563119.118780.54690.1026
9Helio Castroneves600:59.4190118.992880.60960.0627
10Callum Ilott7700:59.5008118.829770.69140.0818
11Romain Grosjean5100:59.6344118.562280.82500.1336
12Jimmie Johnson4800:59.7120118.408880.90260.0776
13Ryan Hunter-Reay28No Time0000.00000.0000
— Round 1 Group 1: Results (PDF) | Back to session list

Practice

RankDriverCar No.Best TimeOn LapBest SpeedTotal LapsDifferenceGap
1Alex Palou1000:58.782425120.28133--.------.----
2Helio Castroneves0600:58.885023120.071320.10260.1026
3Jack Harvey6000:58.888720120.064270.10630.0037
4Pato O'Ward500:58.893325120.054330.11090.0046
5Josef Newgarden200:58.894723120.052340.11230.0014
6Romain Grosjean5100:58.905527120.030370.12310.0108
7Will Power1200:58.919821120.000330.13740.0143
8Alexander Rossi2700:58.932527119.975320.15010.0127
9Colton Herta2600:58.947331119.944330.16490.0148
10Graham Rahal1500:58.991423119.855320.20900.0441
11Scott Dixon900:59.008322119.820330.22590.0169
12Scott McLaughlin300:59.066924119.702310.28450.0586
13Felix Rosenqvist700:59.109420119.615310.32700.0425
14Marcus Ericsson800:59.118131119.598320.33570.0087
15Sebastien Bourdais1400:59.291322119.249290.50890.1732
16Oliver Askew4500:59.298232119.235330.51580.0069
17Rinus VeeKay2100:59.309724119.212340.52730.0115
18James Hinchcliffe2900:59.312517119.206250.53010.0028
19Ed Jones1800:59.338319119.154310.55590.0258
20Jimmie Johnson4800:59.455428118.919360.67300.1171
21Conor Daly2000:59.536621118.757320.75420.0812
22Max Chilton5900:59.584322118.662330.80190.0477
23Simon Pagenaud2200:59.680625118.471330.89820.0963
24Callum Ilott7700:59.917723118.002351.13530.2371
25Dalton Kellett401:00.198639117.451421.41620.2809
26Ryan Hunter-Reay2801:00.26995117.312111.48750.0713
27Takuma Sato3001:22.2521285.960323.469721.9822
— Practice: Results | Back to the session list

Session Notes:

  • The 75-minute practice session began at 9 a.m. PDT with cool temperatures and sunny skies.
  • There were several incidents that resulted in red flags:
    • At 9:29 a.m., Max Chilton stopped on course in Turn 2 after a spin resulting in a two-minute red flag. Chilton was penalized five minutes of practice time.
    • At 9:36 a.m., Alex Palou stopped off course in Turn 12 to bring out a four-minute red flag. Palou was penalized five minutes of practice time.
    • At 10:03 a.m., Scott McLaughlin made contact with the tire barrier in Turn 12, causing the session's third red flag. McLaughlin was penalized five minutes of practice time.
  • Despite his earlier off, Palou ended the session with the fastest lap as the Chip Ganassi Racing driver looks to regain the championship lead after losing it to Pato O'Ward at World Wide Technology Raceway.

 

Green Flag12:42 p.m. PDT *
Drivers Start Your Engines12:35 p.m.
Race Broadcast3 p.m. EDT on NBC
Qualifying12:15 p.m. Saturday
Qualifying Broadcast3:15 p.m. EDT Saturday on Peacock Premium
Practice Sessions9–10:15 a.m. Saturday
3:15–3:45 p.m. Saturday (warm-up)
Full Weekend ScheduleView PDF
Live Timing and ScoringINDYCAR Race Control and INDYCAR Mobile app (iOS, Android).
Radio BroadcastINDYCAR Radio Network affiliates, SiriusXM 205, IndyCar.com and on the INDYCAR Mobile app (iOS, Android).
Video StreamingAll NTT IndyCar Series practice sessions and qualifying will stream live on Peacock Premium, NBC’s direct-to-consumer livestreaming product.
* All times are in Pacific Daylight Time unless otherwise noted. View the green-flag time in all time zones.

Starting LineupView Table
Qualifying GroupsView PDF
Entry ListView Table
Spotter Guide
2021 Grand Prix of Portland spotter guide
View PDF | View Interactive
Pit AssignmentsView PDF
Push-to-Pass Parameters200 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 20 seconds per activation.
Tires Available per EntrySix sets primary, four sets alternate. Teams must use one set of primary and one new set of alternate tires in the race. (Note: A seventh set of primary tires is available to any car fielding a rookie driver.)

Starting Lineup

SPCar No.DriverEngineTire
110Alex PalouHondaAlternate
227Alexander RossiHondaAlternate
39Scott DixonHondaAlternate
47Felix RosenqvistChevroletAlternate
515Graham RahalHondaAlternate
626Colton HertaHondaPrimary
75Pato O'WardChevroletAlternate
818Ed JonesHondaAlternate
945Oliver AskewHondaPrimary
108Marcus EricssonHondaAlternate
1159Max ChiltonChevroletAlternate
1214Sebastien BourdaisChevroletPrimary
1329James HinchcliffeHondaAlternate
1412Will PowerChevroletPrimary
153Scott McLaughlin (R)ChevroletPrimary
1620Conor DalyChevroletPrimary
1706Helio CastronevesHondaPrimary
182Josef NewgardenChevroletPrimary
1977Callum Ilott (R)ChevroletAlternate
2060Jack HarveyHondaAlternate
2151Romain Grosjean (R)HondaAlternate
2248Jimmie Johnson (R)HondaPrimary
2322Simon PagenaudChevroletPrimary
244Dalton KellettChevroletPrimary
2521Rinus VeeKayChevroletPrimary
2630Takuma SatoHondaPrimary
2728Ryan Hunter-ReayHondaAlternate
(R) Rookie
— Starting Lineup: PDF

Entry List

Car No.DriverHometownSponsorTeamEngine
2Josef NewgardenNashville, Tennessee, USAHitachiTeam PenskeChevrolet
3Scott McLaughlin (R)Christchurch, New ZealandPPGTeam PenskeChevrolet
4Dalton KellettStouffville, CanadaK-Line InsulatorsAJ Foyt RacingChevrolet
5Pato O'WardMonterrey, MexicoArrow McLaren SPArrow McLaren SPChevrolet
06Helio CastronevesSao Paulo, BrazilMeyer Shank RacingMeyer Shank RacingHonda
7Felix RosenqvistVärnamo, SwedenArrow McLaren SPArrow McLaren SPChevrolet
8Marcus EricssonKumla, SwedenHuski ChocolateChip Ganassi RacingHonda
9Scott DixonAuckland, New ZealandPNC Bank Grow Up GreatChip Ganassi RacingHonda
10Alex PalouBarcelona, SpainPNC BankChip Ganassi RacingHonda
12Will PowerToowoomba, AustraliaVerizon 5GTeam PenskeChevrolet
14Sebastien BourdaisLe Mans, FranceROKiTAJ Foyt RacingChevrolet
15Graham RahalNew Albany, Ohio, USATotal QuartzRahal Letterman Lanigan RacingHonda
18Ed JonesDubai, United Arab EmiratesSealMasterDale Coyne Racing with Vasser SullivanHonda
20Conor DalyNoblesville, Indiana, USAU.S. Air ForceEd Carpenter RacingChevrolet
21Rinus VeeKayHoofddorp, NetherlandsSonax / AutogeekEd Carpenter RacingChevrolet
22Simon PagenaudMontmorillon, FranceMenardsTeam PenskeChevrolet
26Colton HertaValencia, California, USAGainbridgeAndretti AutosportHonda
27Alexander RossiNevada City, California, USANAPA Auto Parts / AutoNationAndretti AutosportHonda
28Ryan Hunter-ReayFort Lauderdale, Florida, USADHLAndretti AutosportHonda
29James HinchcliffeToronto, Canada#ShiftToGreenAndretti AutosportHonda
30Takuma SatoTokyo, JapanPanasonic / Mi-JackRahal Letterman Lanigan RacingHonda
45Oliver AskewJupiter, Florida, USAHy-VeeRahal Letterman Lanigan RacingHonda
48Jimmie Johnson (R)El Cajon, California, USACarvanaChip Ganassi RacingHonda
51Romain Grosjean (R)Geneva, SwitzerlandNurtec ODTDale Coyne Racing with RWRHonda
59Max ChiltonReigate, EnglandCarlinCarlinChevrolet
60Jack HarveyBassingham, EnglandAutoNation / SiriusXMMeyer Shank RacingHonda
77Callum IlottCambridge, EnglandJuncos Hollinger RacingJuncos Hollinger RacingChevrolet
(R) — Denotes NTT IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year candidate
— Entry List: PDF

PORTLAND WEATHER

Track TypeRoad course
Length1.964 miles
Race Distance110 laps (216.04 miles)
Number of Turns12
DirectionClockwise
Track Map
2021 Grand Prix of Portland track map
Credit: INDYCAR
Event Twitter Account & Hashtag@Portland_GP, #PortlandGP

Past Driver Performance IndexView PDF
Last Five Wins— 2019: Will Power, Team Penske
— 2018: Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
— 2007: Sebastien Bourdais, Newman Haas Lanigan Racing
— 2006: AJ Allmendinger, Forsythe Championship Racing
— 2005: Cristiano da Matta, PKV Racing
Last Five Poles— 2019: Colton Herta, Harding Steinbrenner Racing (57.8111 seconds)
— 2018: Will Power, Team Penske (57.3467 seconds)
— 2007: Justin Wilson, R Sports
— 2006: Bruno Junqueira, Newman Haas Racing
— 2005: Justin Wilson, RuSPORT
Qualifying Lap Record57.2143 seconds (Will Power of Team Penske on Sept. 1, 2018)

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