Tag: Portland International Raceway

BITNILE.COM New Race Sponsor at Portland

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PORTLAND, Ore. (Aug. 1, 2023) – BITNILE.COM has been announced as the title sponsor of the annual NTT INDYCAR SERIES event at Portland International Raceway (PIR), Sept. 1-3, 2023. The Labor Day weekend motorsport festival headlined by the 110-lap penultimate race of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season will be called the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland.  

Starting at 10 a.m. PT tomorrow (Aug. 2), Single Day tickets go on sale for the three-day event at PIR featuring non-stop action with 10 total races from five different series. Ticket prices start as low as $25 for Single Day General Admission and $70 for Single Day Grandstand seats. Three-day tickets remain available for purchase and offer the best value. Fans should visit raceportland.com/indycar to buy tickets for the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland weekend. 

BITNILE.COM, owned by BitNile Metaverse, Inc., is a rapidly growing virtual world with over 1.4 million engaged users. Earlier this year, the platform debuted social gaming with the launch of roulette, offering users an opportunity to play for fun or real money prizes, and the site also allows gamers the opportunity to drive on virtual race tracks including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

BITNILE.COM also sponsors Ed Carpenter Racing, an NTT INDYCAR SERIES team that will be represented by Indianapolis 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay and Rinus VeeKay in the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland.

“I firmly believe that the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland embodies the essence of innovation and technology, mirroring the cutting-edge nature of the metaverse world we operate,” stated Milton “Todd” Ault III, executive chairman of BitNile.com and Ault Alliance. “By sponsoring this thrilling event at Portland International Raceway, we aim to share our passion for technological advancement with the world, creating an electrifying experience for IndyCar fans both at the track and in the metaverse.”

The 2023 BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland marks the 29th running of this event, adding to the rich history of open-wheel racing in the Rose City. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES headlines the weekend and takes the green flag Sunday, Sept. 3, in a late-season race that could decide and finalize the championship chase. The series points leader after the completion of the past four Portland rounds (2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022) has gone on to claim the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship.

“We are thrilled to welcome our new title sponsor and partner BITNILE.COM to the team!” said Jerry Jensen, general manager of Green Savoree Portland, which owns and operates the event at PIR. “BITNILE.COM is already such a great supporter of IndyCar racing through their sponsorship of Ed Carpenter Racing. With this new partnership, we look forward to growing this event, building off a strong foundation of classic IndyCar races dating back to 1984, with invaluable support from BITNILE.COM.”

This year’s field will feature returning race winners Scott McLaughlin (2022), Alex Palou (2021) and Will Power (2019). The grid is anticipated to also boast other notable drivers such as 10-year Formula One veteran Romain Grosjean and, including Power, eight Indianapolis 500 winners: this year’s winner Josef Newgarden, four-time winner Helio Castroneves, 2008 winner and six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon, Marcus Ericsson, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Simon Pagenaud and Alexander Rossi.

The three top open-wheel development series that feed into the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will also race at PIR on Labor Day weekend. INDY NXT will battle on Sunday, Sept. 3, for 35 laps on the 1.964-mile, 12-turn permanent road course. Drivers from USF Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires and USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tires will contend for championships as both series conclude their seasons with tripleheader races across the weekend. Additionally, the U.S. Touring Car Championship will add exciting sports car action to the event lineup.

Children 12 and under receive free general admission to the event. This also includes complimentary access to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Paddock throughout the weekend when accompanied by a ticketed adult. PIR is located less than a tenth of a mile from a public transit stop – the Delta Park/Vanport MAX Station on TriMet’s MAX Yellow Line – making a trip to the track exceptionally affordable for families.
For all ticket pricing, grandstand locations and additional festival information, visit raceportland.com/indycar. Stay up to speed on the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland on social media all year long by following #PortlandGP.
About BitNile Metaverse, Inc.:Founded in 2011, BitNile Metaverse (Nasdaq: BNMV) owns 100% of BNI, including the BitNile.com metaverse platform. The Platform, which went live to the public on March 1, 2023, allows users to engage with a new social networking community and purchase both digital and physical products while playing 3D immersive games. In addition to BitNile.com, Inc., BitNile Metaverse also owns three non-core subsidiaries either directly or indirectly: approximately 66% of Wolf Energy Services Inc. (OTCQB: WOEN) indirectly; 100% of Zest Labs, Inc. directly; and approximately 89% of Agora Digital Holdings Inc. directly. BitNile Metaverse also owns approximately 70% of White River Energy Corp (OTCQB: WTRV).
About BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland:Portland International Raceway (PIR) is the home of the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland. PIR is a 1.964-mile, 12-turn permanent road course owned by the City of Portland and operated under Portland Parks & Recreation. Opened in 1960 to host sports car and drag racing, the 268-acre property hosts over 550 events annually including automotive and motorcycle road racing, motocross, cruise-ins and other special events including the Rose Cup Races. PIR has been the site of many memorable INDYCAR races. Al Unser Jr. won the inaugural one in 1984, and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returned in 2018 after an 11-year absence with 2017 and 2020 Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato taking the checkered flag. The Father’s Day race of 1986 featured Mario Andretti passing his son Michael on the last lap and winning by 0.070 of a second. The closest three-way road racing finish in INDYCAR SERIES history took place at PIR in 1997 when the top three were covered by just 0.055 of a second. In 2021, Alex Palou’s victory in Portland propelled him to win the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship. The Grand Prix of Portland is owned and operated by Green Savoree Portland, LLC, which also promotes NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Pacific Office Automation 147 event at PIR (June 2-3, 2023) and whose affiliates own and operate three additional INDYCAR SERIES races:  Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding (March 3-5, 2023), The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2023 Accord Hybrid (June 30-July 2, 2023) and Honda Indy Toronto (July 14-16, 2023). 

Portland Wrap Up

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Can Scott Dixon win a seventh title?

Happy Labor Day. The Grand Prix of Portland gave Indycar what it wanted, a tight three way battle for the championship at Weather Tech Raceway Laguna Seca next Sunday. Five drivers are mathematically eligible to win the title, but I think only Will Power,Josef Newgarden, and Scott Dixon have a realistic shot.

Portland’s spot on the schedule makes it kind of a stepchild. Fans are more interested in how it sets up the season finale the following week. I think that and the Labor Day weekend placement on the calendar hurt the attraction of the event.

Yesterday’s crowd wStaras decent, not great. Based on the scarcity of fans at the ntrack Saturday, it was a great turnout. Inhad a sense that there were fewer food vendors at the track than there were on my last visit in 2019. My friend who attended last year’s race, confirmed ny suspicions.

Portland has never been one to have a lot of fan activities or concerts. Perhaps these things may help attendance. I didn’t get a sense that the city as a whole embraces the event. It’s too bad. Portland is a fun city with lots of neat little neighborhoods I enjoy exploring.

Cleaner Start

Indycar finally listened to the drivers and allowed the pole sitter to accelerate at the exit of turn 12. The result was a lack of the traditional chaos in the first turn. The pack was bunched up as tyhey entered the tuirn, but theres was enough separation for everyone to get through cleanly. Whether that made the overall race better, i’m not so sure.

Poor Jimmie Johnson. He drove one of his cleansest races of the year and gets hit out of nowhere by Rinus VeeKay while VeeKay was trying to lap him. Despite all his road course struggles this year, Johnson’s car is still in the Leader’s Circle for 2022.

I’m heading to Seattle to check a bucket list city off my to see list and watch a Mariners game. I’ll stiil keep up with all the latest McLaren signings and firings. Thanks for following along this weekend. Next weekend is going to be wild.

Quick Thoughts- Portland Grand Prix

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A very processional race sets up an intriguing championship fight next week. Scott mclaughlin’s dominant win pulls him within 41 points of Will Power. Scott Dixon and josef Newgarden both trail Power by 20 points, and Marcus Ericsson is just 39 points behind.

This is the closest five drivers have been heading into the final race since 2003. Ericsson and McLaughlin need a lot of help to win the title, but Dixon and Newgarden have a legitimate chance.

Alloowing the race to start at the exit of turn 12 helped avoid a big wreck in turn 1, but as I feared, it made for a rather mundane race.

Someday Christian Lundgaard wiil put a complete race together. Today was not that day. He made a brilliant move in turn 1 to to grab second from Power, but his late error in turn 1 after the caution cost him a top 10.

David Malukas now trails Lundgaard by just five points in the Rookie of the Year standings.

Never count out Scott Dixon. Another bad qualifying turned into a podium finish. He’s been in a couple of championships that went to the finale.

Newgarden may have cost himself a copuple of spots by going with blacks on his final stint.

Rinus VeeKay continues his up and down season. His contact with Jimmie Johnson cost hoim a possible top 10 finish.

I never thought I would see a Portland race with just one caution.

Podium Down Under

For the first time since 2011, all the drivers on the podium were from Australia or New Zealand.

All three drivers wilbe in contention for the win next week. as well. Dixon said tire degradation is extremely high at Weather Tech Raceway. Power repated what he said yesterday about it being a difficult track.

I will have a wrap up of the weekend tomorrow for you to read as I drive to Seattle. Thanks for following along this weekend.

Race Day at Portland

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Scott McLaughlin goes for third win of the year today from pole

Today’s Schedule All Times Pacific

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

10:20 AM – 11:15 AM Indy Lights Race Peacock
11:40 AM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Driver Introductions
12:30 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Grand Prix of Portland (110
laps) NBC; Peacock

Indycar issued new procedures for today’s race. The pole winner may accelerate at the exit of turn 12. This new start zone will intheory get more separation between the cars entering turn 1 and avoid the chaos we have seen the last few years.

Drivers who go over the curbing at the apex of turn 2 must make “every effort to use the second turb 1 runoff chicane. A penalty may result if the procedure is not followed.

There is a lot at stake at today’s Grand Prix of Portland. Will Power looks to extand his lead in the points standings. Josef Newgarden has some work to do from his eightth place spot on the grid to stay close enough to Power heading into the next week’s finale at Laguna Seca.

Alex Palou is on the verge of being the first defending series champion to go winless since Scott Dixon in 2004. Dixon, third in the standings has a lot of ground to make up from 16th.

Scott McLaughlin could work his way back into serious title contention with a win. He starts today 54 points behind Power. A win today and issues for Power could help his cause greatly.

Marcus Ericsson’s 17 point deficit to the lead could balloon today. He needs to move up from 18th and pretty much needs a top 5 finish to have a chance next week.

Red tires may be the tire of choice today. I’ll be back wit the starting tire selections, and then some quick thoughts after the race. There will be a wrap up here tomorrow morning, then it’s on to seattle and baseball. Enjoy the race.

New Start Procedure; Rossi Leads Final Practice

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Indycar as updated the starting procedure for tomorrow’s Grand Prix of Portland. Cars will be allowed top accelerate at the exit of turn 12. BY doing so, the series hopes to avoid what has become annual first turn carnage by spreading out the cars. The start may look more ragged than ususal, but avoiding the first turn chaos is better.

Alexander Rossi had the fastest time in this afternoon’s final warmup. The 30 minute session ran without incident.Most cars took a couple drives through the escape road in turn1 for practice.

The crowd today seemed a bit down from the last time I was here, and there looked to be fe3wwer food vendors than I remember.

This will do it for today’s coverage. thanks for following along.

Results

McLaughlin Takes Portland Pole as Penske Sweeps Top Three

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The Penske 1-2-3 wasn’t entirely unexpected, but Scott Mclaughlin winning the pole may have been. McLaughlin took a precious point from one of his teammates in earning his third pole of 2022. Josef Newgarden finished secind but will start eighth due to an engine penalty, and points leader Will power was third. Power will move to second on the starting grid tomorrow.

Christuan Lundgaard was the fastest non Penske qualifier in fourth. Alex palou and Pato O’Ward completed the top six.

None of the Andretti cars made the final round. Colton Herta qualified eighth., just ahead of Alexander Rossi.

Scott Dixon, third in points, and Marcus Ericsson, fourth in the standings, finished the session 16th and 18th.

In the post qualifying press conference, the top three dreivers expressed concern about the start of the race tomorrow. Power suggested that the leaders need to start racing coming out of turn 12 to spread the field out before turn 1. Ideally, Power thinks the race should begin on the back stretch.

Indycar may make a decision about the starting point later today.

While today’s results didn’;t alter the points among the main contenders, any point that drivers behind Power don’t get is to Power’s advantage.

I will have a post up aftyer the final practice later this afternoon.

Results

Power Leads Penske Sweep of Practice 2

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Last week’s test is paying off for Team Penske so far this weekend, as Josef Newgarden led yesterday’s practice and this morning Will Power led the practice, followed by teammates Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin. The three drivers were separated by less than a tenth of a second.

Colton Herta was fourth fastest, followed by Christian Lundgaard, Graham Rahal, Scott Dixon, and Alexander Rossi.

David Malukas led the middle part of the session, but faded to 11th by the end.

It was a clean session, unlike the may interruptions yesterday..

Practice ran under cloudy skies, and the weather at qualifying time is expected to be 69 degrees and cloudy. Some sun may appear by the Fast Six.

Results

Qualifying Key for Those in the Title Hunt

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Felix Rosenqvist in turn 1 at Portland

Today’s Schedule: All Times Pacific

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2 Peacock
10:15 AM – 11:00 AM USF200O Race 3
11:15 AM – 11:55 AM Indy Lights Practice 2
12:05 PM – 1:20 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying Peacock
1:30 PM – 2:00 PM Indy Lights Autograph Session
1:35 PM – 2:05 PM ARCA Menards Series West Qualifying
2:20 PM – 3:10 PM Indy Pro 2000 Race 3
3:25 PM – 3:45 PM Indy Lights Qualifying
4:15 PM – 4:45 PM NTT INDYCAR SERIES Final Practice Peacock
5:30 PM ARCA Menards Series Race (57 laps)

Today is one of the most important days of the year for the four drivers with a realistic chance at winning the Indycar Series title. track position could be what allows any driver to avoid a possible problem in turn 1 of lap 1.

While Josef Newgarden led practice yesterday, Will Power,and Scott Dixon were 10th and 11th, and Marcus Ericsson was 16th. Newgarden will serve a six place grid penalty for an engine change. He will will start no better than seventh.

Notes

Yesterday afternoon The Associated Press reported that McLaren would consider offering a buyout to Chip Ganassi racing for the services of Alex Palou. Since McLaren won their case in F1 to get Oscar piastri to replace Daniel Ricciardo, I’m not sure where Palou would fit in their organization. I would for him to wqste a year as an F1 reserve driver.

Meanwhile, Felix Rosenqvist may be able to get out of his McLaren deal Rosenqvist wants to stay in Infdycar. His 2022 sseason has shown he belongs in this series.

Look Alikes

Two sets of cars have very similar liveries this weekend.

The cars of Ganassi teammates Scott Dixon and Marcus Ericsson both represent PNC Bank Formula 1 style. Ericsson has blue rteaer wing end plates.

Dixon
Ericsson

Scot McLaughlin and Devlin DeFrancesco are not on the same team, but their liveries are strikingly similar. I happened top get a picture yesterday of the two of them on track together.

DeFrancesco (left) McLaughlin (right)

I’ll be back after morning practice with the quaqlifying groupings.