Will Power earned his and Team Penske’s first triumph of the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series on August 10 at the BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland. Power stretched his tires to hold off Christian Lundgaard and claimed the checkered flag, while Alex Palou secured third place, sealing his fourth IndyCar championship title.
Power acknowledged the challenges faced throughout the season during post-race interviews, reflecting on mechanical setbacks and strategic decisions that ultimately paid off on race day.
It’s just a big win for all of the team,
Power told FOX Sports’ Jack Harvey.
Just stoked. I’ve had a great career with Verizon, with Penske. I really enjoy winning for the guys and everybody I’ve worked with for a long time. It’s awesome.
Alex Palou’s Consistent Performance Clinches Fourth IndyCar Championship
Alex Palou steadily advanced early in the race, asserting himself as a top contender. Despite Pato O’Ward leading for the initial laps, electrical issues around lap 20 diminished O’Ward’s chances, helping Palou secure his fourth IndyCar championship and second consecutive title before the race concluded.
When asked what drove his success throughout the year, Palou credited the strength of his team and reliable Honda power units.
The team I have behind me. All of our partners. Honda, who has given us all the power we need every single weekend. But my team, the car has been unbelievable, also today. It was a shame that we couldn’t end it with another win. But we fought. I gave everything that I had. I tried everything to overtake Lundgaard, but I couldn’t make it today.
Meanwhile, Power dominated by leading 78 laps, using a well-timed pit stop on lap 61 to extend his tire life and maintain a lead over Palou and Lundgaard. The closing stages featured an intense battle for second place between Palou and Lundgaard, with contact occurring in the final five laps as both drivers fought aggressively.
Despite the close contest, Palou held onto third place by several seconds ahead of Graham Rahal and Alexander Rossi, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
Race Incidents Impact Key Drivers and Early Cautions Set the Tone
The race began with a delayed start by 15 minutes and was marked by multiple early cautions. On lap 2, Santino Ferrucci crashed hard near the pit entry, prompting the first caution. Soon after, a clash involving Kyffin Simpson, Rinus Veekay, and Louis Foster led to another stoppage, with Simpson penalized for initiating the incident.
Around lap 14, intense racing between Conor Daly and Christian Rasmussen ended Daly’s race prematurely following heavy contact near turns nine and ten.
Team Penske faced further adversity when Josef Newgarden, running inside the top ten, was spun out after contact from Scott Dixon on lap 84, ultimately finishing 24th.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming Race at the Milwaukee Mile
The IndyCar season continues with its penultimate event on August 24 at the Milwaukee Mile for the Sunoco Milwaukee Mile 250. Fans can watch the action live on FOX starting at 2 p.m. ET as drivers seek to solidify their standings heading into the final race.
Alex Palou’s IndyCar Championship 2025 victory highlights his continued mastery in the series, while Will Power’s endurance and strategy at Portland suggest he remains a formidable contender. With just a couple of races remaining, the competition promises to stay intense and full of dramatic moments as teams push for end-of-season success.