Will Power Kicks Off Stretch Run at His Portland Playground

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES heads to Portland International Raceway this weekend for the OnlyBulls Grand Prix, with Alex Palou front-running the championship and Will Power returning to his most productive venue.

Power has three wins in the last six Portland races, including consecutive victories in 2023 and 2024, reinforcing his description of the venue as a personal playground in Pacific Northwest.

That 2024 triumph was emphatic, with Power leading 78 of 110 laps, and it contrasts sharply with his five-year St. Petersburg drought despite 18 attempts at that street circuit.

The 2024 win also bookended a turbulent contract period. After waiting on an 18th-season extension with Team Penske, Power switched teams and promptly underlined his relevance in today’s competitive landscape.

He owns 45 career victories, fourth on the all-time INDYCAR list behind A.J. Foyt, Scott Dixon, and Mario Andretti, yet he has not won in the 14 races since.

Palou arrives with an 83-point cushion, nearly two races clear. He has two Portland victories since 2021, plus second in 2024 and third last year.

He also took pole on debut and has led 106 laps here, second to Power’s 181.

The nearest chasers are David Malukas and Kyle Kirkwood, both within 100 points, but the deficit demands immediate gains as the calendar enters its decisive stretch.

Neither Malukas nor Kirkwood has a Portland podium. They finished 19th and 20th last year, while their 2026 road-course averages stand at 4.0 and 6.75 respectively.

Most of Kirkwood’s six career wins are on street circuits, with one on an oval.

Christian Lundgaard sets the road-course benchmark, averaging 1.5 across permanent layouts. He won at the IMS road course and Road America, adding runner-up finishes behind Palou and Pato O’Ward.

Their combined form is authoritative, with Lundgaard and Palou leading over 60 percent of this season’s road-course laps. Graham Rahal also trends upward after rising from 22nd to fourth at Portland last year.

Rahal’s recent output includes two third-place finishes, and his 2023 Portland pole underscores RLL’s one-lap capability. For extended context, see coverage of Christian Lundgaard’s IMS and Road America victories this summer.

Practice begins Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET, with final practice and qualifying Saturday as the NTT P1 Award is decided. Sunday features warmup at 1 p.m. ET and the 110-lap race at 4 p.m. ET on FOX and INDYCAR Radio.

Strategy will hinge on caution timing, overcuts on a low-deg surface, and clean pit windows. Power’s Portland efficiency meets Palou’s relentless accumulation, while the chasers must convert opportunities immediately.

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Brian Thompson

Brian Thompson focuses on IndyCar Series news, from qualifying speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to street-course race strategy. He delivers concise feature stories and technical breakdowns on chassis setups, tire choices, and championship standings for open-wheel enthusiasts.