Will Power wins in Portland and saves Team Penske's year

Will Power broke a 14-race winless streak for Team Penske by claiming victory at the Portland Grand Prix, using a risky tire strategy that nearly cost him the win in the closing laps. The 44-year-old Australian prevented the legendary team from completing its first winless season since 1999, when it still competed in CART.

Power's 45th career victory came after leading 78 of 110 laps at Portland International Raceway, holding off late challenges from Christian Lundgaard and Alex Palou in a finish decided by tire strategy and fuel management. Power crossed the line 1.5 seconds ahead of the Danish Arrow McLaren driver.

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Palou makes history with fourth championship

Alex Palou capped a dominant season by securing his fourth IndyCar championship in five years, becoming just the fourth driver to win three consecutive titles. The Spaniard from Chip Ganassi Racing joins Ted Horn (1946-48), Sebastien Bourdais (2004-07) and Dario Franchitti (2009-11) in this exclusive group.

With eight wins in 14 races this season, Palou only needed to finish the race to clinch, as his 121-point lead over Pato O'Ward was virtually insurmountable. The Mexican Arrow McLaren driver saw his slim hopes disappear when an electrical issue forced an extended pit stop on lap 21.

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Power's strategic gamble that half-worked

Team Penske opted for an aggressive strategy with alternate Firestone tires in Power's first two stints, aiming to build enough advantage before the mandatory switch to primary tires. The tactic worked perfectly initially: Power led by as much as 20 seconds over Palou by lap 51.

But when Power switched to primary tires on lap 61, the chase intensified. Lundgaard, who had started seventh due to a six-position grid penalty for an unauthorized engine change, closed to within 1.1 seconds by lap 74 with Palou nine seconds back but with twice as much Push to Pass available.

The Dane had dominated Saturday qualifying with a time of 58.3939 seconds, his third IndyCar pole and first with Arrow McLaren. The engine penalty relegated him to seventh on the grid, benefiting teammate O'Ward with pole position. For Arrow McLaren, it represented a complete contrast to 2024, when their best qualifiers were Rossi in 18th and O'Ward in 23rd.

The final 30 laps that defined Portland

With all contenders on their final stint, the race became a pure battle of speed and tire management. Power, on used alternate tires, faced the challenge of holding off two rivals with fresh rubber and better race pace.

The O'Ward factor and collapsed hopes

Pato O'Ward arrived in Portland as Palou's only mathematical threat, needing to cut the 121-point deficit to less than 107 to keep his championship hopes alive. The Mexican appeared poised to fight for victory when an electrical issue with his Arrow McLaren took him out of contention on lap 21.

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Honda and Ganassi's dominance by the numbers

Honda sealed the manufacturers' championship emphatically, capitalizing on Chip Ganassi Racing's strength and Andretti Global's development program. The Japanese manufacturer claimed 12 wins in 15 races, with eight victories for Palou and contributions from Scott Dixon, Colton Herta and Marcus Armstrong.

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