Tag: Portlad International Raceway

BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland Fast Facts

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From IndyCar. My preview will post tomorrow morning early.

 Race weekend: Friday, Aug. 8-Sunday, Aug. 10
Track: Portland International Raceway, a 12-turn, 1.964-mile road course in Portland, Oregon
Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI 110 laps / 216.04 miles | INDY NXT by Firestone: INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Portland 35 laps / 68.74 miles / 55 minutes
Media links: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Entry List (PDF) | INDY NXT by Firestone Entry List (PDF) | Trackside Media Guide (Interactive PDF)
Push to Pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 200 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 20 seconds per activation. | INDY NXT by Firestone: A maximum of 50 activations total or 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation.
Hybrid energy deployment parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Unlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 350 kilojoules (kj) per lap
Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Five sets primary, five sets alternate to be used during the event weekend. Teams must use one set of primary and one new set of alternate tires unless wet conditions are declared. One additional set is available for the weekend’s first session to teams fielding a rookie driver. | INDY NXT by Firestone: Three new sets to be used during the event weekend. Two carryover sets from the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca event may be used during pre-qualifying practice sessions on Friday and Saturday.
X: @Race_Portland, @IndyCar, #PortlandGP, #INDYCAR
Instagram: @Race_Portland, @IndyCar, #PortlandGP, #INDYCARThreads: @IndyCar, #PortlandGP, #INDYCAR
Facebook: @PortlandGP, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR
TikTok: @INDYCAR, #INDYCARYouTube: @INDYCAR
Event website: www.raceportland.com
INDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com

2024 race winners: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet)
INDY NXT by FirestoneJacob Abel (No. 51 Abel Motorsports)
2024 NTT P1 Award winner: Santino Ferrucci (No. 14 Phoenix Investors Chevrolet), 58.2046 seconds, 121.475 mph
2024 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winner: Louis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Global), 1 minute, 2.1396 seconds, 113.783 mph
Qualifying records: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Will Power, 57.2143 seconds, 123.577 mph, Sept. 1, 2018 (Set in Round 1 of knockout qualifying)
INDY NXT by Firestone Louis Foster, 1 minute, 2.1396 seconds, 113.783 mph, Aug. 24, 2024
FOX Sports telecasts: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Practice 1, 5:30 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Practice 2, noon ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Qualifying, 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Final practice, 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI, 3 p.m. ET Sunday, FOX (live).
Will Buxton is the play-by-play announcer for FOX’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Georgia Henneberry, Kevin Lee and Jack Harvey are the pit reporters.
 INDY NXT by Firestone: Practice 1, 4 p.m. ET Friday, FS1 (live); Practice 2, 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1; Qualifying, 8:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS2 (live); Race, 1 p.m. ET Sunday, FS1 (live).
Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for FOX Sports’ coverage of INDY NXT by Firestone alongside analyst Jack Harvey. Georgia Henneberry is the pit reporter.
INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Michael Young and Nick Yeoman are the turn announcers. Jake Query, Ryan Myrehn and DJ Clark are the pit reporters. The BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI race (2:30 p.m. ET Sunday) can be heard live on network affiliates nationwide. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES race, INDY NXT by Firestone race (12:55 p.m. ET Sunday), NTT P1 Award Qualifying (2:30 p.m. ET Saturday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices also air live on SiriusXM 218, www.indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
At-track schedule (all times local):
Friday, Aug. 8
1:05-1:50 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice 1, FS1 (live)
2:35-3:55 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 1, FS2 (live)
Saturday, Aug. 9
9-10 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 2 (45 minutes green flag or 1 hour total), FS1 (live)
11:35 a.m. – BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI NTT P1 Award qualifying (three rounds of knockout qualifying), FS1 (live)
1:30-2:15 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice 2, FS1 (live)
4:32-4:57 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES final practice, FS1 (live)
5:30 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone qualifying (two groups/12 minutes each), FS2 (live)
Sunday, Aug. 10
10:01 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Portland “Drivers, start your engines”
10:06 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Portland (35 laps / 68.74 miles / 55 minutes), FS1 (live)
Noon – FOX on air
12:15 p.m. – BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI “Drivers, start your engines”
12:22 p.m. – BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI (110 laps/216.04 miles), FOX (live) 
NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship facts: Alex Palou leads the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship with three races to go for the third time in his INDYCAR SERIES career. Palou also led with three races to go in both 2023 and 2024 when he won the series title. Palou has led the point standings since the start of the season.There are two drivers still mathematically eligible for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship: Alex Palou and Pato O’Ward. If O’Ward trails Palou by 108 points or more following Sunday’s race, Palou will clinch the series title. Palou leads by 121 points entering this event.Since the first INDYCAR SERIES race at Portland International Raceway, the winning driver has won the INDYCAR SERIES championship in the same season 12 times: Bobby Rahal (1987), Danny Sullivan (1988), Emerson Fittipaldi (1989), Michael Andretti (1991), Al Unser Jr. (1994), Alex Zanardi (1998), Gil de Ferran (2000), Cristiano da Matta (2002), Sebastien Bourdais (2004, 2007) and Alex Palou (2021, 2023).
Honda is on the verge of wrapping up the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Manufacturers Championship after winning 12 of the first 14 events. Honda needs to maintain its 224-point advantage this weekend to clinch its seventh manufacturers’ title and first since 2021. 
 Point differential: The 121 points separating Alex Palou and Pato O’Ward are the largest margin with three races remaining since 2008. During that span, the average lead with three races remaining is 39.1 points.
Key championship point statistic: Since 2008, the driver who has led the championship with three races to go has won the championship 11 times – Scott Dixon in 2008, 2018 and 2020, Dario Franchitti in 2011, Will Power in 2014 and 2022, Simon Pagenaud in 2016, Josef Newgarden in 2017 and 2019 and Alex Palou in 2023 and 2024.

Race notes:The BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI will be the 31st INDYCAR SERIES race at Portland International Raceway and the seventh since the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returned in 2018. Al Unser Jr. won the first INDYCAR SERIES race at Portland in 1984, while Will Power won last season. Alex Palou, Scott McLaughlin and Will Power are the only former winners entered in this year’s race.
ACTIVE RACE WINNER WINS SEASONS
Alex Palou 2 2021, 2023

Will Power 2 2019, 2024


Scott McLaughlin 1 2022

Eight INDYCAR SERIES drivers have won at Portland International Raceway from the pole – Danny Sullivan (1988), Al Unser Jr. (1994), Alex Zanardi (1996), Max Papis (2001), Cristiano da Matta (2002), Sebastien Bourdais (2004), Alex Palou (2021) and Scott McLaughlin (2022).

ACTIVE POLE WINNER POLES SEASONS

Santino Ferrucci 1 2024

Graham Rahal 1 2023

Scott McLaughlin 1 2022

Alex Palou 1 2021

Colton Herta 1 2019

Will Power 1 2018


Team Penske has won eight times at Portland International Raceway, tied with Newman/Haas Racing for most at the track. Penske’s winning INDYCAR SERIES drivers are Danny Sullivan (1988), Emerson Fittipaldi (1993), Al Unser Jr. (1994, 1995), Gil de Ferran (2000), Will Power (2019, 2025) and Scott McLaughlin (2022).
Chip Ganassi Racing has four wins at Portland with Alex Zanardi in 1996 and 1998 and Alex Palou in 2021 and 2023.
Twenty-four drivers entered in the event have competed in past INDYCAR SERIES races at Portland International Raceway. Scott Dixon and Will Power each have eight starts, most among the entered drivers.
Fourteen entered drivers have led laps at the track (Power 169, Scott McLaughlin 109, Alex Palou 101, Graham Rahal 59, Colton Herta 40, Alexander Rossi 32, Dixon 30, Pato O’Ward 28, Josef Newgarden 9, Felix Rosenqvist 6, David Malukas 2, Marcus Armstrong 1, Marcus Ericsson 1 and Christian Lundgaard 1).
Six drivers have won INDY NXT by Firestone races at Portland before moving up to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Pato O’Ward won both races at Portland in 2018 on his way to the INDY NXT by Firestone championship. Rinus VeeKay won one of the doubleheader races in 2019, and Kyle Kirkwood and David Malukas split the doubleheader races in 2021. NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookies Louis Foster and Jacob Abel won in 2023 and 2024, respectively … Graham Rahal scored the first win of his professional racing career at Portland, winning the Star Mazda (now USF Pro 2000 championship) race in 2005.
Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 354th consecutive start, extending his INDYCAR SERIES record streak…Graham Rahal will attempt to make his 254th consecutive start, the third-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Josef Newgarden will attempt to make his 217th consecutive start, the sixth-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Dixon passed Mario Andretti for the INDYCAR SERIES record for starts with his 408th start May 25 at Indianapolis and will extend his record to 417 with a start Sunday…Dixon’s win July 6 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – his 59th INDYCAR SERIES win – extended two ongoing INDYCAR SERIES records he holds: seasons with a win (23) and consecutive seasons with a win (21). Dixon’s second-place finish July 13 at Iowa Speedway extended two additional ongoing INDYCAR SERIES records he holds: podium finishes (145) and top-five finishes (215).
INDY NXT by Firestone notes:The season-long INDY NXT by Firestone title fight between Andretti Global’s Dennis Hauger and Lochie Hughes saw a new contender enter the fray as HMD Motorsports’ Caio Collet swept the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey doubleheader July 26-27 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Sega. Hauger, who has a season-best five wins, leads Collet by 42 points headed into the final road course race of the season at Portland. Hughes, Myles Rowe and Portland native Josh Pierson are just behind, looking to make it a five-man sprint to the finish. The ultra-competitive 2025 season has seen four winners in 11 races and nine different drivers finish on the podium.The INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Portland will be the series’ 24th race at Portland International Raceway. Previous Indy NXT by Firestone winners at Portland include Paul Tracy, Andre Ribeiro, Greg Moore, Pato O’Ward, Rinus VeeKay, David Malukas, Kyle Kirkwood, Louis Foster and Jacob Abel.Dennis Hauger could clinch the INDY NXT by Firestone Dallara Rookie of the Year Award if he can gain 19 points on Lochie Hughes in this weekend’s event. The award is given to the top-finishing rookie in the point standings. 

Portland Schedule

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Times are Eastern. Portland is in the Pacific Time Zone

Friday, August 8

4 pm-FS1-NXT practice

5:30 pm-FS2-INDYCAR practice

Saturday, AUGUST 9

12-FS1-INDYCAR practice

2:35 pm-FS1-INDYCAR qualifying

4:30 pmS1-NXT practice

7:30pm-FS1-NXT qualifying

8:30 pm-FS2-INDYCAR warmup

Sunday, August 10

1:06 pm-FS2-IFS1-NXT race 35 laps

3 pm-FOX on air-Prerace

3:22 pm-FOX-Green flag INDYCAR race 110 laps

Power Surge in Portland

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Top photo by Kyle McInnes

Will Power beat pole sitter Santino Ferrucci to the first turn and dominated the Grand Prix of Portland, leading 101 laps on his way to his third victory of the season. Points leader Alex Palou finished second and lost just 12 points to Power in the championship.

“Every win I get now is so special,” Power said in the post race press conference. He said that the series is so competitive now that each win is “a big deal.”

The race itself was static. Besides Ferrucci slipping to eighth at the end, few drivers improved their positions. Scott McLaughlin finished seventh after starting 20th, Pato O’Ward moved from 23rd to 15th, and Alexander Rossi improved go 12th from 18th.

For the first time in recent memory, the field got through turn 1 cleanly, but Scott Dixon was squeezed by Kyle Kirkwood, and then Pietro Fittipaldi hit him, sending Dixon into the Armco and out of the race.. It was the only caution of the afternoon.

Power used pit strategy to extend his lead, only losing the top spot during his stops.

Romain Grosjean spun in turn 1 and took some time to refire his engine. He then turned the car in the right direction right into the path of Christian Rasmussen. Both cars continued, but pitted as they came around.

Notes

Scott Dixon has finished last at two road races this year, yet he sill has an outside chance at the title. Dixon will probably be eliminated after the first race in Milwaukee next Saturday.

Power has led more than 100 laps in the last two races.

Can Alex Palou finally get an oval win in one of the final three races? Should he get the victory, it would pretty much seal his third title. He indicated in the media availability that it is a goal.

The championship is realistically down to just four- Palou, Power, Herta, and McLaughlin. While eight are still mathematically eligible, several will probably be out of the running after next weekend.

I will have some more thoughts tomorrow. Thanks for following along this weekend.

Portland Race Day; Lineup and Tire Selections

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Today’s Schedule:

9:30 AM Gates Open
10:20 AM – 11:15 AMINDY NXTRace (35 Laps or 55 mins)
11:40 AM NTT INDYCAR SERIESDriver Introductions
12:30 PM BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland – NTT INDYCAR SERIESRace (110 Laps)

The Indycar race is on USA Network. Indy NXT and Indycar races are on Peacock.

Good morning from Portland. Today is expected to be the best weather day of the weekend, with a temperature of 70 degrees at the green flag and about 75 degrees when when checkered flag waves.

If Will Power beats Santino Ferrucci to turn 1, he should come away with the win. If not, mit could be anybody’s race. Several fast cars are startiing in the second half of the grid, including Alexander Rossi, Scott McLaughlin, and Pato O’Ward.

Alex Palou attempts to at least maintain his current 59 point lead from third. Power is the only contender starting ahead of him, and he is 66 points behind.in fourth place. The top six are separated by just 98 points, but it would take two bad races by Palou for him to be in trouble. I think Race 1 at Iowa was his bad race for the year.

The official lineup, with penalty assessments, and the starting tire for each driver:

I’ll be back after the race with a quick wrapup.

McLaughlin, Simpson Assessed Engine Penalties

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Photo b y Kyle McInnes

From Indycar:

McLaughlin will start 20th tomorrow.

INDYCAR Announces Portland International Raceway Grid Penalties 
 INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024) – INDYCAR officials have announced a six-position starting grid penalty for the entries of No. 3 Team Penske and No. 4 Chip Ganassi Racing for unapproved engine changes following qualifying at Portland International Raceway.The teams were in violation of:Rule 16.1.2.3.2. A fifth (5th) Engine is eligible to earn Engine Manufacturer points if a Full Season Entrant has completed the Full Season Entrant Engine Mileage with its first four (4) Engines. Otherwise, a fifth (5th) or more Engine does not earn Engine Manufacturer points and will be considered an Unapproved Engine change-out.According to Rule 16.1.6.1.2., the penalty is a six-position starting grid penalty on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and will be served at the series’ next event, which is the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland Sunday, Aug. 25 at PIR.

Shock Pole for Foyt Team

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Photo by Kyle McInnes

Hiring Michael Cannon has paid off handsomely for A. J. Foyt Racing. Santino Ferrucci sits on pole for tomorrow’s Bitnile.com Grand Prix of Portland. Ferrucci sits 11th in the points with several top 10 finishes this year as gthe Foyt team has had a resurgence in 2024.

Ferrucci played a waiting game and was the last car to get on track in the Fast Six. It was an unusual Fast Six, with Will Power and Alex Palou the only regular guests. Besides Ferrucci, Kyle Kirkwood, Graham Rahal, and Christian Lundgaard made it through to the final round.

Round 1 saw Scott McLaughlin and David Malukas, who were fast in the two practice sessions, eliminated. Scott Dixon and Colton Herta went out in the Fast 12, as did Josef Newgarden, Romain Grosjean, Marcus Armstrong, and Marcus Ericsson.

Alex Palou was leading the second round when he spun exiting turn 12. He was able to keep the car running, and returned to the track. The spin cost him his best lap up to that point, but he recovered to advance to the final segment.

Notes

Kirkwood and Rahal will star 11th and 12th, respectively when their six place grid penalties are assessed. Malukas will line up in row 13 with his penalty.

Today’s attendance is probably the best I’ve seen for a Saturday at Portland.

Points leader Palou will start third. Will Power, fourth in the standings is the only contender ahead of him.

Power still has not won a pole this season.

Results

McLaughlin Stays on Top

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Photo by Kyle McInnes

Scott McLaughlin continues to pace the Indycar field at Portland after the second practice. McLaughlin turned a lap 0f 58.8605 seconds this morning under cool conditions. David Malukas was just two hundredths of a second behind. Malukas will serve a six spot grid penalty for the race.

The field is quite tight. 26 of the 28 cars were within seven tenths of the leader. Only Felix Rosenqvist and Toby Sowery were more than a second behind the leader.

Felix Rosenqvist had a wild ride over the turn 1 curbing, captured by Peacock. He is now just two hours short of getting his pilot’s license.

Three red flags stopped the session briefly, but the field id get the full 45 minutes of green flag time allotted. Will Power spun and stalled in the first five minutes of the session. Sting Ray Robb went off track in turn 11 and went nose first into the tire barrier. Toby Sowery went off tack requiring a stoppage near the end of the session.

Qualifying begins at 12:30 pm Pacific Time.

Results

Notes

Get your spotters guide handy. There are nine cars this weekend with a shade of red and white liveries here. Several cars, notably the number 14, are in a livery that is a complete departure from their usual colors.

It is warming up quickly, and conditions for qualifying should near ideal.

Saturday at Portland

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Today’s Schedule: All Times Pacific

8:30 AM Gates Open
9:00 AM – 10:00 AMNTT INDYCAR SERIESPractice 2
10:20 AM – 11:00 AMUSF2000Race 2
11:20 AM – 12:05 PMINDY NXTPractice 2
12:00 PM – 12:30 PMUSF Pro 2000 & USF2000Autograph Session in Speed Zone
12:30 PM – 2:00 PMNTT INDYCAR SERIESQualifying/Firestone Fast 6
12:40 PM – 1:10 PMUSF JuniorsAutograph Session in Speed Zone
2:15 PM – 2:55 PMUSF JuniorsRace 3
2:15 PM – 3:00 PMINDY NXTAutograph Session
3:10 PM – 4:00 PMUSF Pro 2000Race 2
4:20 PM – 4:50 PMINDY NXTQualifying
5:15 PM – 5:45 PMNTT INDYCAR SERIESFinal Practice
6:05 PM – 6:45 PMUSF2000Race 3

It looks like te rest of the weekend will be dry, but today will begin cool. The temperature will be 5

7 degrees for the start of practice this morning, but when qualifying begins, it will be a near perfect 65 degrees. Tomorrow calls for a high of 80 degrees.

The slight contact between Romain Grosjean and Graham Rahal in Friday practice didn’t look like much of a big deal to me. I think the incident is magnified because Grosjean was involved. Grosjean has had a decent year, but he the clashes he has had with other drivers during his time at Andretti causes him to take the blame for each incident. I think he has been better this season, and maybe people should not be so quick to point hte finger at him every time.

I’m not sure if we will see a lap in the 57 second range today, but conditions should be ideal. It will be an interesting fight for the Fast Six. This morning’s practice may give us more clarity of hwo will be challenh[ging for pole.,

I’m heading to the track now. I will be back after morning practice. IndyCar has a compact, early schedule today, with a final practice four hours after qualifying ends.

McLaughlin Tops First Portland Practice

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Photos by Kyle McInnes

Scott McLaughlin led today’s opening practice round for the Portland Grand Prix this afternoon. McLaughlin’s fast lap of 58.3 seconds came in the small group session which followed the 45 minute all cars session. Alexander Rossi led the all xars portion of the practice period, and Marcus Armstrong was fastest in the second small group.

The rain cleared for practice, but it returned later this afternoon. We should not see any more this weekend, although temperatures will be cooler than normal.

I arrived in Portland just a few mionutes before practice began, and rental car issues and traffic made getting my credentials a longer process than I had anticipated. I will be at the track early tomorrow for the first practice.

I did watch practice on Peacock. Turn 1 is still a problem spot as several drivers locked up and missed the corner.

Results