2025 BitNile.com Grand Prix of Portland

Power Defends Portland Win as Palou Clinches Fourth IndyCar Title

Will Power dominated the 2025 BitNile.com Grand Prix of Portland, leading 78 laps to secure his first win of the season and third at the 12-turn, 1.964-mile road course since 2019. The No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet driver crossed the finish line 1.5388 seconds ahead of Christian Lundgaard in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, with Alex Palou third in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Power's victory, completed in 2:01:06.0311 under sunny skies with 84-degree ambient and 121-degree track temperatures, marked Team Penske's first of the year amid a challenging campaign.

Power's strategic masterclass began early, capitalizing on cautions to stretch stints and build leads. Starting third after penalties shuffled the grid, he surged to the front on Lap 16 following the race's third caution. "It was a Team Penske-type day," Power said post-race. "My engineer picked that strategy … Had faith that I'd had a lot of pace."

Lundgaard, penalized six spots from pole for an engine change, charged from seventh to second, his fifth podium of 2025. "We raced our way up … Only things to be proud of," he noted, crediting Arrow McLaren's turnaround.

Palou's third-place finish clinched his fourth NTT IndyCar Series title and third consecutive, amassing a 151-point lead over Pato O'Ward with two races left. Honda secured its seventh manufacturers' championship. "We're just scratching the surface of his talent," team owner Chip Ganassi said of Palou.

The Spaniard pushed hard, battling Power and Lundgaard late: "We gave everything … We wanted to win." A Lap 108 skirmish with Lundgaard saw Palou go off course, but he recovered. "He goes around the outside… Gravel," Lundgaard explained.

The race featured 11 lead changes among five drivers — Power, O'Ward, Rahal, Newgarden and Palou — across three cautions for 11 laps. Lap 2's yellow followed Santino Ferrucci's spin in Turn 12 in the No. 14 Sexton Properties AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet, ending his day. Debris in Turn 2 triggered Lap 8's caution. Conor Daly's heavy Turn 11 contact in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet on Lap 15 prompted the final yellow; both drivers were seen and released.

Penalties shaped the action: Kyffin Simpson's avoidable contact on Lap 10 (restart at back of field) in the No. 8 Ridgeline Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Devlin DeFrancesco's blocking on Laps 13 and 21 (yield positions) in the No. 30 Dogecoin Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda and Scott Dixon's avoidable contact on Lap 86 (drive-through) in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

Tire choices were pivotal in the heat, with Power's red tire stint on Lap 35 helping gap rivals. "These tires… Things can change drastically," David Malukas said pre-race.

Rahal's fourth in the No. 15 Hendrickson International Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda marked an 18-spot gain, the weekend's most improved, echoing his pre-weekend optimism: "We should be very strong here."

O'Ward, starting pole after penalties, dropped to 25th with mechanical issues, extending Palou's lead. "The guy's pretty much won it already," O'Ward said post-qualifying.

Power's 45th win ties him fourth all-time, boosting Penske amid transitions.

Broadcast on FOX, the race saw 242 total passes, 200 for position, and Power's fastest lap of 1:00.1259 on Lap 22, capping a weekend of heat-driven strategy and Portland's passionate atmosphere since 1984.

Palou's 626 points secure the title; O'Ward sits second at 475. Honda clinches manufacturers' honors. Milwaukee awaits as Power eyes more: "Never count out Penske."

Palou Tops Portland Final Practice as Turn 1 and Heat Shape Race Prep

Alex Palou signaled his championship intent in the final practice for the 2025 BitNile.com Grand Prix of Portland, posting a 59.1766-second lap in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda to lead the 25-minute session on the 12-turn, 1.964-mile road course. With 86-degree ambient temperatures and a 117.5-degree track under fair skies, drivers fine-tuned race setups for Sunday's 110-lap, 216.04-mile battle, wary of Turn 1's chaos and a forecast 94-degree race day that will test tire strategy and endurance.

Palou, who can clinch his third consecutive title with a 108-point lead over Pato O'Ward, edged Colton Herta's 59.4124 in the No. 26 Gainbridge Andretti Global Honda by 0.2358 seconds. Graham Rahal, in the No. 15 Hendrickson International Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, took third at 59.4526, a boost after qualifying 22nd. Felix Rosenqvist (No. 60 SiriusXM Meyer Shank Racing Honda, 59.4878) and Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet, 59.6080) rounded out the top five.

"I think we have a great car," Palou said post-qualifying, optimistic despite a Turn 11 miscue that cost him pole. "Hopefully today in the warm-up we're going to get a small idea of what the preferred tire is."

The session, starting at 4:32 p.m. local time and ending at 4:58 p.m., ran without incident, allowing teams to focus on race pace with five sets each of primary and alternate Firestone tires, one of each required unless wet. The rising heat — expected to hit 94 degrees Sunday — amplified concerns about tire degradation, echoing Palou's pre-race focus: "I am a little bit concerned about tire deg … It's going to be key to choose the right strategy."

Pato O'Ward, starting first after penalties dropped pole-sitter Christian Lundgaard, emphasized surviving Turn 1: "I'll tell [Rosenqvist], 'Let's not screw each other up,'" he said, referencing their front-row start.

Lundgaard, in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, fell to 24th at 1:00.2901 after his pole-winning 58.3939, focusing on race setup post-engine penalty. O'Ward, fifth in practice at 1:00.0495, remains focused: "I'll be thinking winning the race."

Combined practice times show Herta's 58.4238 (Practice 2) as the weekend's fastest, with Palou and Scott Dixon close behind. With penalties reshaping the grid — Lundgaard, Newgarden, Santino Ferrucci and Kyffin Simpson dropping six spots — race strategy and Turn 1 survival will define Sunday's outcome. Broadcast live on FOX at 3 p.m. ET, the Grand Prix of Portland promises a heated battle as Palou chases history and underdogs seek redemption.

Lundgaard Claims Portland Pole as Penalties and Turn 1 Loom Large

Christian Lundgaard captured his third career NTT P1 Award in a dramatic qualifying session for the 2025 BitNile.com Grand Prix of Portland, posting a 58.3939-second lap in the Firestone Fast Six to lead the field on the 12-turn, 1.964-mile road course. However, a six-position grid penalty for an unapproved engine change drops the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet driver, handing the effective pole to teammate Pato O'Ward. Under fair skies with 73-degree ambient and 105.8-degree track conditions, penalties helped shape a pivotal session for Sunday's 110-lap, 216.04-mile race.

Lundgaard edged O'Ward's 58.5343 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet by 0.1404 seconds, with Felix Rosenqvist's 58.5583 in the No. 60 SiriusXM Meyer Shank Racing Honda third. Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, 58.6424), David Malukas (No. 4 Gallagher Insurance AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet, 58.6557) and Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, 58.6690) completed the Fast Six, but penalties for Lundgaard, Kyffin Simpson, Santino Ferrucci and Josef Newgarden — each dropping six spots for engine changes or prior infractions — shuffle the grid. O'Ward, starting first, relished the position: "I'm super pumped to see both cars 1-2 … We'll be leading the field into turn one."

The three-segment qualifying, starting at 11:35 a.m. local time, saw chaos early. In Round 1 Group 1, Sting Ray Robb's No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet caused a local yellow (loss of best lap), while Malukas took a drive-through penalty for an improper shortcut. Robert Shwartzman's No. 83 Prema Racing Chevrolet triggered a red flag at 11:44 a.m. with light contact in Turn 11, causing him to lose his fastest lap to that point. Palou led Group 1 at 58.1185, advancing with Simpson, Power, Marcus Armstrong, Alexander Rossi and Malukas. Group 2 saw O'Ward's blistering 58.2420 top Ericsson, Newgarden, Scott Dixon, Lundgaard and Rosenqvist.

Round 2 tightened the fight, with Rosenqvist's 58.1918 leading Lundgaard, O'Ward, Palou, Power and Malukas into the Fast Six. Palou's Turn 11 off-course excursion and light barrier contact cost his best lap due to a local yellow, though he continued. "I tried a little bit too hard," Palou admitted. "It was a small mistake." Lundgaard, unfazed, focused on tire management: "I saw he was reversing… I was thinking about keeping these tires clean."

The penalties elevate O'Ward, Rosenqvist and Power to the top three starting spots, with Palou fifth, still poised to clinch his third consecutive title if he maintains a 108-point lead over O'Ward. "I'm not going to drive differently just because we have a chance," Palou said, eyeing a win. Conor Daly (26th, 58.9617, No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet), Graham Rahal (22nd, 58.5836, No. 15 Hendrickson International Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda) and Jacob Abel (27th, 58.9648, No. 51 Abel Construction Dale Coyne Racing Honda) face steep climbs after qualifying struggles, amplifying Turn 1 concerns raised by the drivers. "Start as high up as you can," Abel urged pre-weekend.

With Sunday's 94-degree forecast, tire strategy — five sets each of primary and alternate Firestones, one required per type — will be critical. Lundgaard, despite his penalty, remains optimistic: "We've been competitive at every event." The official lineup, reflecting penalties, awaits post-warm-up release.

Herta Sets Pace in Tight Portland Practice 2

Colton Herta fired a warning shot in Practice 2 for the 2025 BitNile.com Grand Prix of Portland, topping the 45-minute session with a 58.4238-second lap in the No. 26 Gainbridge Andretti Global Honda on the 12-turn, 1.964-mile road course. Under fair skies with 66-degree ambient and 81.3-degree track conditions, the field showed remarkable parity, with just 0.9431 seconds separating Herta from 27th-placed Jacob Abel. As drivers fine-tune for Saturday's qualifying at 11:35 a.m., Turn 1's notorious chaos looms large, shaping preparations for Sunday's 110-lap, 216.04-mile race.

Herta edged Alex Palou's 58.4531 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda by 0.0293 seconds, with Scott Dixon's 58.5023 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda third. Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, 58.5376) and Devlin DeFrancesco (No. 30 Dogecoin Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, 58.5441) completed the top five, signaling a competitive qualifying. Christian Lundgaard, Practice 1's leader, slipped to seventh at 58.6313 in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, while Louis Foster, a rookie in the No. 45 Droplight Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, impressed with ninth at 58.6723.

The session, starting at 9 a.m. local time, ran smoothly without red flags, a contrast to Practice 1's debris and off-course interruptions. Teams maximized the cooler conditions to test tire strategies — five sets each of primary and alternate Firestones, one of each required for the race unless wet — preparing for Sunday's forecasted 93-degree heat.

"It's going to change car balance, tire life," Kyle Kirkwood said after Practice 1, reflecting on last week's test that hit 90 degrees. His No. 27 JM Bullion Andretti Global Honda took 19th at 58.8922, but he remains optimistic: "We were good here last year."

Palou, chasing his third straight title and fourth overall, sits second in combined practice times, trailing Herta. "It's been feeling amazing this year, especially road courses," he said pre-weekend, eyeing a championship-clinching performance if he maintains a 108-point lead over Pato O'Ward (11th, 58.7228, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet).

Graham Rahal, Conor Daly and Callum Ilott, highlighted in The Apex's pre-weekend feature for their Turn 1 wariness, struggled — Rahal 23rd at 59.0637 (No. 15 Hendrickson International Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda), Daly 21st at 58.9153 (No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet) and Ilott 17th at 58.8326 (No. 90 Prema Racing Chevrolet). "Start as high up as you can," Abel (27th, 59.3669, No. 51 Abel Construction Dale Coyne Racing Honda) urged pre-weekend, a strategy now critical after a lackluster session.

David Malukas, sixth in Practice 1, dropped to 14th at 58.8001 in the No. 4 Gallagher Insurance AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet but remains confident. "We got answers on primaries and alternates," he said Friday, noting the team's strong 2024 Portland pole. With push-to-pass (200 seconds total, 20 seconds per activation) and hybrid energy (350 kilojoules per lap) in play, qualifying will set the tone for surviving Turn 1's "lottery," as Ilott called it. The session, streamed live on FS1, primes a field eager to dodge Portland's opening gauntlet and reshape their 2025 narratives.

Lundgaard Leads Portland Practice 1 as Heat and Red Flags Shape Session

Christian Lundgaard set the pace in a disjointed Practice 1 for the 2025 BitNile.com Grand Prix of Portland, navigating a warming 12-turn, 1.964-mile road course to post a 58.5320-second lap at 119.627 mph in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. With ambient temperatures at 77 degrees and the track at 113.5 degrees under fair skies, the session's three-segment structure — 40 minutes for all cars, 12 minutes for Group 1 and rookies, 12 minutes for Group 2 and rookies — was marred by two red flags, testing drivers' adaptability ahead of Sunday's 110-lap, 216.04-mile race.

Lundgaard's flyer in Group 1 edged Alex Palou's 58.5381 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, with Felix Rosenqvist's 58.6589 in the No. 60 SiriusXM Meyer Shank Racing Honda third. Graham Rahal, in the No. 15 Hendrickson International Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, landed fourth at 58.6879, signaling strength after recent Firestone Fast Six appearances at Portland. Josef Newgarden rounded out the top five in the No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet at 58.7126.

The session, starting at 2:35 p.m. local time, hit early turbulence. Debris in Turn 3 triggered a red flag at 2:51 p.m., halting action for two minutes. A second stoppage at 2:57 p.m. followed Scott Dixon's off-course excursion in Turn 11 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, earning a five-minute penalty for causing a red flag. "It was a tough session with the interruptions," said David Malukas, sixth overall at 58.7498 in the No. 4 Gallagher Insurance AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet. "It took a while to get a lap in."

Group 1 saw Lundgaard dominate, with Rahal and Rosenqvist close behind, while Conor Daly's No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet managed 12th overall at 58.8841, a boost after last year's result at Portland. "We got a good feel for what we want," Daly said pre-session, his optimism reflected in a solid run.

Group 2 was Palou's domain, with Malukas and Marcus Armstrong's No. 66 SiriusXM Meyer Shank Racing Honda (seventh, 58.7573) impressing. Kyle Kirkwood, eighth at 58.7649 in the No. 27 JM Bullion Andretti Global Honda, leaned on last week's test. "We got a bit of all the conditions," Kirkwood said, noting the 90-degree heat expected Sunday. "It's going to change car balance, tire life."

Jacob Abel and Callum Ilott struggled, finishing 26th and 27th at 59.2653 and 1:00.1163 in the No. 51 Abel Construction Dale Coyne Racing Honda and No. 90 Prema Racing Chevrolet, respectively. Both cited Turn 1's risks pre-session — Abel aiming to "start as high up as you can," Ilott wary of its "lottery" — and their times suggest qualifying will be critical to avoid chaos on Sunday. Pato O'Ward, Palou's sole championship rival, took ninth at 58.7981 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, trailing by 121 points.

With Sunday's 93-degree forecast looming, tire strategy — five sets each of primary and alternate Firestones, one required per type — will be pivotal. The session, broadcast live on FS2, sets the stage for Practice 2 at 9 a.m. Saturday. As Lundgaard, Palou and Rosenqvist lead, Rahal, Daly and others eye gains to dodge Portland's Turn 1 gauntlet and reshape their 2025 narratives.