Today’s Schedule: All Times Pacific

8:30 AM		Gates Open
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM	USF Juniors	Qualifying
9:45 AM – 10:15 AM	USF2000	Practice
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM	USF PRO 2000	Practice
11:15 AM – 11:55 AM	USF Juniors	Race 1
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM	NTT INDYCAR SERIES	Autograph Session
12:10 PM – 12:40 PM	USF2000	Qualifying
12:55 PM – 1:25 PM	USF Pro 2000	Qualifying
1:45 PM – 2:30 PM	INDY NXT	Practice 1
2:55 PM – 4:10 PM	NTT INDYCAR SERIES	Practice 1
4:30 PM – 5:10 PM	USF2000	Race 1
5:25 PM – 6:05 PM	USF Pro 2000	Race 1
6:20 PM – 7:00 PM	USF Juniors	Race 2

The last road course of the season takes place Sunday in the Pacific Northwest. The main drama is in the first turn of the race, where chaos usually reigns. For the first time since IndyCar returned to Portland in 2018, the Bitnile.com Grand Prix will not be the penultimate race on the schedule.

Three oval races, two at Milwaukee next week, will end the 2024 season. Still, Portland could go a long way toward determining the outcome of the championship. Points leader Alex Palou has won the race two years in a row, and he has to be the heavy favorite coming into the event. In 2023, he clinched the title here, the earliest the championship has been decided since 2005.

Palou brings a 59 point lead to Portland. Colton Herta, his closest pursuer, has won a pole at this track, but if the points leader is looking over ghis should er at anyone, it should be Scott McLaughlin. Mclaughlin is coming on strong with a win and a second place since Iowa.

Although Portland is earlier in the schedule than it normally has been, the off track drama that occurs at this venue remains. While the hard feelings from gateway have been erased, will they return in Turn 1 Sunday? Will there be any Silly Season movement this weekend?

I will be onsite tomorrow. I am currently sitting out a long layover in Las Vegas, and I will not arrive in time for the first practice. It is possible that practice could be run under wet conditions, but the rest of the weekend looks dry.

I still think Palou wins again here. He has mastered this race course, and I’m sure he is anxious to put a little more distance between himself and the rest of the top 5.

Where Is Rossi Heading?

I have heard from a very reliable source that Alexander Rossi’s options have narrowed. My guess is that he will sign with Rahal Letterman Lanigan. I base this on the options still available.

I will be back with a post practice report later today.