Will Power races to nail-biting IndyCar Portland win for Team Penske

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5 days ago

With his current contract expiring and rumors of an exit from Team Penske's No. 12 Chevrolet at year's end, veteran Will Power provided a reminder of his talent Sunday in Oregon.
Power surged to the lead in the middle stages of the race and kept a charging Christian Lundgaard and Alex Palou at bay over the event's second half to claim the BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland. It was the Australian's first win of the year and the only victory for Team Penske in what's been a tumultuous 2025 campaign.
'I think it's just a big win for all the team,' Power said of the result. 'We've had a rough year. And it's not really because we've been off the pace. It's just been unfortunate circumstances. I've had two engine failures…a tire failure…
'…It's a good, hard-fought win.'
Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, Will Power, Team Penske, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
The triumph didn't come easy. Power cycled through to the lead through the early pit sequences, but had Lundgaard in heavy pursuit over the final 40 laps, while Palou closed up a 20-second gap from third. The trio each had to navigate lapped traffic along the way.
Much of it worked to Power's detriment, But the final car he lapped — David Malukas, who's been his rumored replacement over the summer — allowed him by and briefly held up Lundgaard and Palou, instigating a battle between that pair that sent Palou off-course and gave Power some breathing room up front with four laps remaining.
From there, the two-time champion kept his wheels on-track and soared to the 45th victory of his lengthy IndyCar career.
'I've had a great career with Verizon and (Team) Penske,' Power said. 'I've really enjoyed winning for the guys and everyone I've worked with for a long time. It's awesome.'
Lundgaard got the better of the late scrap with Palou to take second, but it was Palou that got the last laugh. His 11th podium in 15 races was enough for the Spaniard to clinch his fourth IndyCar title, completing a three-peat with the most dominant campaign of his young career.
As the race unfolded
Patricio O'ward, Arrow McLaren
Pato O'Ward started on pole and had hopes of postponing Palou's championship celebration. But he slowed and had to make an unscheduled stop when a wire connected to his No. 5 Chevrolet's DI box malfunctioned on lap 22. The Mexican lost 10 laps getting the necessary repairs, effectively ending the title fight. He finished the race in 25th.
Graham Rahal used an alternative strategy to rise from 22nd to fourth, with Alexander Rossi wrapping up the top-five. Callum Ilott, Scott McLaughlin, Marcus Armstrong, Felix Rosenqvist and Colton Herta completed the top 10.
Sunday's race started with early drama. The first caution flag came just two laps in, when Santino Ferrucci lost control of his No. 14 Chevrolet at the exit of the final corner and slammed into the inside wall just past the pit attenuator. Another caution came quickly on the lap 8 restart, brought about by debris from a double-spin for Louis Foster and Rinus VeeKay.
The early action came to a crescendo when Christian Rasmussen and Conor Daly went to war on-track. Rasmussen first shoved Daly off-course on lap 13. Daly nearly slid into the Dane with a turn 2 lunge on the following lap, but avoided contact until he'd gotten alongside Rasmussen going into turn 9 on lap 15.Then the pair made contact and Daly was sent sliding hard into the tire barrier.
'Purposefully wrecking someone in a 150mph corner is just pure insanity,' Daly later posted on X. 'That's not racing. It's inexcusable. The driving standards, for some, are a joke right now. That means you (Rasmussen).'
Once the dust settled on that accident, the IndyCar field calmed down and went caution-free for the final 90 laps. Josef Newgarden spun on cold tires in turn 2 after contact from a trailing Scott Dixon on lap 84, but was able to get his machine righted and continue on without a caution. Daly and Ferrucci's were the day's only DNFs in 26th and 27th.
With Sunday's race complete, just two oval races remain for the 2025 IndyCar season. The series will be back in action on Aug. 24 at the Milwaukee Mile.
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