IndyCar Title Race Becomes More Convoluted Due to Alex Palou's Error in Portland Race
Alex Palou Clinches 2025 IndyCar Championship at Portland Grand Prix
Alex Palou, the 28-year-old IndyCar racing sensation, clinched his fourth IndyCar championship and third consecutive title at the 2025 IndyCar Grand Prix of Portland. Despite a setback during qualifying, Palou's consistent performance on the track secured him the championship before the final two races in Milwaukee and Nashville.
In qualifying, Palou made an off-track excursion that resulted in a lap time being deleted for impeding, dropping him from an initial sixth position to officially start fifth. Pato O'Ward qualified just ahead but lost the pole position bonus point due to his teammate Christian Lundgaard's six-place grid penalty. Lundgaard, a driver for Arrow McLaren in IndyCar, had won pole despite needing a new engine.
Palou entered the weekend with a 121-point lead over O'Ward, the only driver who could still challenge him for the title. To clinch the championship with two races remaining, Palou needed to leave Portland with at least a 108-point lead.
During the race, O'Ward suffered an engine problem that caused him to fall well behind. Palou's third-place finish gave him enough points to secure the championship, regardless of other results. The future of Will Power's IndyCar career remains uncertain with just three races remaining.
Palou's championship-clinching performance at Portland marks a significant milestone for the driver, establishing him firmly among the series’ elite. Known for his near-perfect precision on track, Palou has become one of the best IndyCar drivers of all time. His consistent dominance over the past five years has earned him a place as the fifth most successful driver in the series.
As the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland started at 3 PM ET on Fox, O'Ward led the field to green in P1, while Palou started the race on the inside of the third row in P5 due to qualifying performance and Lundgaard's penalty. The Fast 6 in qualifying included Will Power, Felix Rosenqvist, David Malukas, Christian Lundgaard, and both Palou and O'Ward.
With the championship clinched, Palou can focus on securing a podium finish in the remaining races of the season. O'Ward is in an ideal position to keep his title hopes alive, with fewer cars between himself and Palou on the grid. The grid penalties do not affect the championship standings: Palou still holds a significant lead over O'Ward. The future of IndyCar racing is looking bright with these top drivers competing for victory.
In the current IndyCar series, Palou's football-like precision on the track has earned him a spot as one of the best sports figures, showcasing his talent in a variety of sports, not just racing. After clinching his championship at the Portland Grand Prix, Palou now has the opportunity to bet on further success, aiming for podium finishes in the remaining races of the season.
