IndyCar is back for its final 3 races of the 2025 season and the championship is officially wrapped. Alex Palou will be our 2025 NTT IndyCar Season Champion – cemented as one of the all-time greats in Portland. However, it was Will Power who took the win record off the table for Palou with his close victory at our final road course. Here are the key takeaways from the IndyCar Grand Prix of Portland.
Here comes the Champion
Alex Palou is our 2025 IndyCar Champion after the Grand Prix of Portland. The writing has been on the wall for most of the season, earning 8 wins across every track type. It was the electronics failure for Pato O’Ward, though, that solidified Palou’s season win today.
The commentary team has said it over and over again, Palou is in a league of his own. It is up to the rest of the grid (and a well-placed ‘lucky’ mistake) to figure out what they can do to challenge Palou in 2026. The driver asking themself this question the loudest, perhaps? Pato O’Ward.
Will Power makes a POWERful statement in Portland
Will Power delivered a performance in Portland that quieted – for now – the growing whispers about his future at Team Penske. Rumors have been swirling that AJ Foyt’s David Malukas could take his seat in 2026. This would be a move that could mark the end of an era for one of IndyCar’s most seasoned veterans.
Power commented leading into Portland that his future is uncertain:
“I don’t think I’ll know [about his seat at Penske] until the end of Nashville. I just want to know, to be honest. Where am I driving and am I driving at all?” – Will Power to Bob Pockrass
However, in Portland, Power showed exactly why he’s been a mainstay in the series for nearly two decades. Maintaining a lead on used tires ahead of Christian Lundgaard and Alex Palou, with almost no push-to-pass remaining. Power needed a win. Penske NEEDED a win. The poetry was that the win came from the driver whose seat is in question. Whether this was a defiant stand or just another chapter in his storied career, one thing is certain. Will Power isn’t ready to hand over his seat without a fight.
Teamwork makes the dream work
In Portland, there were some key features of IndyCar on display – teammates and technical partnerships between teams. We all know that technically while there are teams in IndyCar, there is no team competition (unlike Formula 1, for example). When necessary, the sportsmanship between teammates and technical partners is strategically put on display.
Let’s hone in on the final 20 laps at Portland. With the top 3 only being separated by 1.5 seconds or less, it was the lapped cars who played key roles in Power, Lundgaard, and Palou fighting for the race win. Kyffin Simpson, Palou’s teammate held up Power for several laps as Palou battled Lundgaard for 2nd place just behind. This caused Power to burn much of his critical Push to Pass. Kyle Kirkwood jumped out of the way of all 3 (none of which are teammates or technical partners).
Not to worry though, because David Malukas was next. The question being: Hold up Will Power whose seat he may take next year, or play the technical partner game? He chose the latter, allowing Will Power through and attempting to hold up Lundgaard and Palou just enough for Power to gain some breathing room.
It’s often exciting to watch the team game play out with cars who are not on the lead lap. Will they help? Will they do everything to remain unlapped? In Portland, the win and the championship were too important for our top 3 and the team game was played beautifully.
Rasmussen vs Daly
We can’t cover the Grand Prix of Portland without discussing the less than sportsman-like scrap between Rasmussen and Daly in our opening laps of the race. During my coverage of Iowa, I commented that drivers and spotters act like Rasmussen behind them is equivalent to “being chased by a ghost in a horror movie”. In Portland, that horror movie took shape.
From Laps 13 – 15, Rasmussen decided that he and Daly should play a friendly game of bumper cars. During a scrap towards the back of the field, Christian first forced Daly off. An understandably frustrated Daly came back to claim the position. With the car well ahead of Rasmussen at the apex, Daly thought he was in the clear… until Christian decided that was his corner. This sent Daly into the wall – ending his Grand Prix of Portland.
This is all to say, Christian has cemented himself as a true contender in IndyCar for the 2026 season. He even claimed his first podium this year. That, alongside ECR’s growing momentum as a team rebuilding their program, is promising. One can only hope with more experience, though, Christian’s aggressive driving style can be better managed. This incident also brings up the conversation of stricter penalties for avoidable contact in IndyCar.
What comes after Portland?
The drivers’ championship is locked up for 2025, but we still have two races remaining – Milwaukee and Nashville. Palou, though, is no longer in contention for taking the single season race-win record…
These next two races are more about seats for 2026, in my opinion. There are many drivers on the chopping block. There are many drivers that have ‘earned’ a promotion. You’re only as good as your last race. With nothing to lose in Milwaukee and Nashville, who will flex their muscles? Who will disappoint? Will Will Power finish the season strong and stay with Penske?
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Feature Image: IndyCar Media
IndyCar returns at Milwaukee on August 24th.
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