Alex Palou didn’t need to win today’s race to clinch the championship, but in reality it was the easiest way to do it. His fifth win in 2023 sealed his second championship in three years.

Palou has nine career wins, and has finished no worse than eight this season.

Chip Ganassi Racing has won the season title three of the last four years.

The race was a decent one for Portland. There were many battles throughout the day, and the field didn’t really get strung out until after the halfway mark.

Odd Occurrences

Race control’s pattern of holding the yellow until drivers have a chance to pit has got to stop. When an incident happens and a car is in a dangerous spot, a yellow flag needs to come out immediately. If someone needs to pit so be it. It’s called the breaks of a game.

How was Palou’s move on Ericsson not a block?

It seems as if Indycar has to get tougher on lapped cars moving out of the way. Maybe a rewording of the rue is in order.

Good Drives

David Malukas improved 15 spots to eighth, and led two laps.

Josef Newgarden, fifth, and Rinus VeeKay, sixth, each improved seven positions form the start. Both escaped the first lap scramble in turn 1.

Will Power can’t seem to catch a break this season. After a consistent 2022, Power has had several difficult outings, most of which not of his own doing.

Juri Vips was the top finishing rookie in 18th.

The 29 car jumped into 21st in the Leaders’ Circle. The entrant has a 4 point blead over car 60 with one race to go.

That will do it for me this weekend. Thanks for following along. I have a very flight tomorrow morning . I will have a full weekend warp up late mday or early Tuesday.