Will Power returned Team Penske to the top step in Portland, ending their 2025 victory drought and keeping his own future in the NTT IndyCar Series wide open. Alex Palou crossed the line third to seal his third consecutive series championship, joining the sport’s most exclusive club of multiple title winners.
The 2025 BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI delivered the kind of season-defining storylines that will be remembered long after the chequered flag. For Power, it was the relief of taking his first win of the year and the first for Team Penske since last September. For Palou, it was another historic milestone in a career that already places him among the sport’s greats.
Power Ends Penske’s Winless Streak
Power started the 110-lap race from third on the grid in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet and executed a bold tyre strategy that paid off. Running Firestone alternates for his first two stints, the two-time series champion built a 20-second lead by Lap 51. The switch to the slower, harder primary tyre on Lap 61 opened the door for the chasing pack, but Power managed the gap when it mattered most.
Christian Lundgaard, who started seventh after a six-place grid penalty for an unapproved engine change despite claiming pole, ran the opening stint on primaries and slowly closed the gap in the second half of the race. Alex Palou also began on primaries from fifth, keeping himself in contention while carefully managing his push-to-pass advantage.
Final pit stops between Laps 79 and 82 set up a tense closing phase. Lundgaard and Palou both took fresh alternates, while Power opted for a used set. By Lap 96, the top three were separated by less than a second. Palou briefly passed Lundgaard for second on Lap 97, only to lose the position within corners.
With three laps to go, Palou ran wide in his latest attempt to overtake Lundgaard, allowing Power to extend his margin to 1.8 seconds and hold it to the line. The win was the 45th of his career, moving him further up the all-time wins list and reaffirming his value to potential employers with his 2026 seat still unconfirmed.
“I won three races last year,” Power said. “If you are a team and you are waiting to know if I am good enough, I don’t know what you are thinking.”
Palou’s Historic Three-Peat
By finishing third, Alex Palou clinched the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series championship with two races still to run. It is his fourth title in five seasons, putting him level with Mario Andretti, Sebastien Bourdais and Dario Franchitti for third on the all-time championship list. Only A.J. Foyt (seven) and Scott Dixon (six) have more.
Palou also joins Ted Horn, Bourdais and Franchitti as the only drivers to win three consecutive IndyCar championships. His latest success also ties Chip Ganassi Racing with Team Penske at the top of the all-time team titles table, with 17 apiece.
“It’s unbelievable, it’s crazy,” Palou said. “An amazing season and an amazing five years with Chip Ganassi Racing. I am so grateful to everyone at CGR and cannot wait for more.”
Title Contenders Falter
Pato O’Ward entered Portland as the only driver with a mathematical chance to deny Palou the crown, starting from the pole and needing to cut the gap from 121 points to at least 107. That challenge ended on Lap 21 when an electrical problem sidelined his No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet for a lengthy repair. He eventually finished 25th, 10 laps down.
Honda sealed the manufacturers’ championship with Palou’s podium, adding another trophy to their 2025 campaign.
Strong Runs in the Midfield
Graham Rahal delivered his best finish of the year with fourth place for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, running an alternate tyre strategy that briefly put him in the lead before his final stop on Lap 84. Alexander Rossi also scored his best result of the season, bringing the No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet home in fifth.
Final Classification – 2025 Portland Grand Prix
- Will Power – Team Penske – Chevrolet
- Christian Lundgaard – Arrow McLaren – Chevrolet
- Alex Palou – Chip Ganassi Racing – Honda
- Graham Rahal – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing – Honda
- Alexander Rossi – Ed Carpenter Racing – Chevrolet
What’s Next
The 2025 NTT IndyCar Series now heads to the ovals for its final two races. The Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 takes place on Sunday, August 24, followed by the season finale at Gateway. With the championship decided, all focus shifts to race wins, contract negotiations, and closing the season with momentum.