The NTT IndyCar Series drivers took to the grid at Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon, for the BITNILE.com Grand Prix, a 1.964-mile track set for an intense 110 laps of open-wheel racing.
Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist secured the front row positions, setting the stage for a competitive race. As the green flag dropped, O’Ward made a strong start, leading Rosenqvist into the first turn.
Race Highlights:
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Lap 3: Santino Ferrucci spun and backed into the pit lane wall, bringing out the caution.
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Lap 8: Louis Foster went around in turn one, causing another caution.
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Lap 13-14: Conor Daly and Christian Rasmussen had on-track contact; Daly spun into the tire barrier, causing a caution. Daly expressed frustration over the radio, blaming Rasmussen.
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During the pit cycle after this caution, many leaders including O’Ward pitted, but Will Power stayed out and took the lead, with O’Ward restarting 13th on fresher tires.
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Lap 21: O’Ward suffered a mechanical issue and slowed to the pits without causing a caution.
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Lap 35 and Lap 61: Will Power made pit stops, with strategic tire choices shifting the lead briefly to Alex Palou.
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Lap 70-84: The battle intensified between Power and Christian Lundgaard, with Lundgaard pitting late for fresh soft tires.
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Lap 84: Josef Newgarden spun exiting the pits after contact with Scott Dixon, who subsequently served a pass-through penalty.
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Final laps featured close battles for the win between Power, Lundgaard, and Palou, including incidents of aggressive moves and defensive driving.
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Power ultimately opened a gap and won the race.
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Alex Palou’s 3rd place finish secured him the 2025 IndyCar Series Championship.
Final Race Results:
| Position | Driver |
|---|---|
| 1 | Will Power |
| 2 | Christian Lundgaard |
| 3 | Alex Palou |
| 4 | Graham Rahal |
| 5 | Alexander Rossi |
| 6 | Callum Ilott |
| 7 | Scott McLaughlin |
| 8 | Marcus Armstrong |
| 9 | Felix Rosenqvist |
| 10 | Colton Herta |
| 11 | Scott Dixon |
| 12 | Christian Rasmussen |
| 13 | Louis Foster |
| 14 | Sting Ray Robb |
| 15 | Robert Shwartzman |
| 16 | Nolan Siegel |
| 17 | Rinus VeeKay |
| 18 | Devlin DeFrancesco |
| 19 | David Malukas |
| 20 | Kyle Kirkwood |
| 21 | Kyffin Simpson |
| 22 | Marcus Ericsson |
| 23 | Jacob Abel |
| 24 | Josef Newgarden |
| 25 | Pato O’Ward |
| 26 | Conor Daly |
| 27 | Santino Ferrucci |
Will Power’s victory was a masterclass of strategy and control, while Alex Palou’s podium finish was enough to clinch the 2025 championship, marking a significant milestone in his racing career. The BITNILE.com Grand Prix at Portland provided thrilling moments and showcased the fierce competitiveness typical of IndyCar racing.
