Championship Leader Alex Palou Dominates First Portland Practice

Championship leader Alex Palou sets the early benchmark at Portland, topping opening practice with a 58.5716s lap at Portland International Raceway for the OnlyBulls Grand Prix of Portland.

Palou pursues a fourth consecutive title, and fifth overall, and immediately asserts control at a circuit where preparation and tire range are decisive.

Chip Ganassi Racing’s recent test day on July 29 pays off. Driving the No. 10 DHL Honda, Palou reports strength on primaries but flags work to do with the alternate Firestone Firehawk.

He characterizes the day as a strong start, yet stresses incremental gains remain, particularly on the alternates that could shape qualifying strategy and stint balance.

Kyle Kirkwood is closest, second on 58.6602s for Andretti Global. He sits third in the standings, 87 points behind Palou, and just four behind David Malukas after major setup changes.

Kirkwood’s Portland baseline appears improved versus last year’s 19th on the grid and 20th in the race, hinting at better car-platform understanding on the 12-turn, 1.964-mile layout.

Rinus VeeKay is third on 58.7996s, an encouraging return for Juncos Hollinger Racing. The smaller operation continues to extract consistent pace, with VeeKay currently 10th in points.

Will Power is fourth, maintaining strong Portland form. The two-time Portland winner’s recent switch to Andretti Global continues to bed in, echoing themes from Will Power’s Portland run.

Louis Foster rounds out the top five on 58.9274 after early technical issues. Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s rapid recovery preserves valuable laps and underlines the car’s underlying pace.

David Malukas, eighth in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, remains 83 points behind Palou. That chassis carried Power to Portland victories in the previous two seasons.

Incidents define parts of the session. Marcus Armstrong and Pato O’Ward both strike the Turn 1 Armco with right-front contact, triggering lengthy repairs and disrupting run plans.

Armstrong’s recent form draws interest as he progresses among rising talents, a discussion that often includes drivers like Marcus Ericsson as benchmarks of career development.

The competitive picture tightens ahead of Saturday. Second practice runs at 1 p.m. ET, followed by the NTT P1 Award session at 7 p.m. ET on FS1.

Sunday’s race starts at 4 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX Deportes, with additional coverage on FOX One and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls.

Visual Summary

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.