Grand Prix of Portland: Schedule, Predictions and How to Watch

IndyCar is in Oregon for the Grand Prix of Portland, marking the last road course of the season. Here’s a look at some details and insights leading up to Sunday’s race.

IndyCar Round 15: Grand Prix of Portland Preview and Predictions

IndyCar is on its final stretch of the 2025 season. This race in Portland at the Portland International Raceway, the final road course of the season, marks the third-to-last event on the schedule.

With how close the end of the season is and Alex Palou holding a commanding 121-point lead over Pato O’Ward, a victory in Portland would not only tie Palou for the second-most wins,9, in a single season, but a strong performance would also secure the championship title.

The only person standing in Palou’s way of his fourth title is O’Ward, and he will do everything he can to prevent that from happening, but the big question is, can he?

Race Preview:

Portland has produced incredible moments and memories that have stood the test of time. In 1977 set the now-current record for the closest two-car and closest three-car finish in INDYCAR SERIES racing history on a road course. While it’s unlikely we’ll see anything of that nature in the race itself, what we could witness is the most successful season in the modern era of the IndyCar Series, if ever, if Palou can sweep the rest of the races.

Will Power won the 2024 Grand Prix of Portland. Finishing on the podium were Palou and Josef Newgarden. The race was not the most exciting, except for the lap one caution caused by Scott Dixon being taken out after being forced wide by Kyle Kirkwood and then struck by Pietro Fittipaldi. Expect a bit more action around this track, especially around the overtaking opportunities.

The Track: Portland International Raceway

The 12-turn, 1.964-mile natural road course is relatively flat but contains several spots for passing opportunities, including a quick chicane at the end of the frontstretch, a hard-braking right-hander (Turn 7) leading onto the sweeping backstretch, and a three-turn complex leading back onto the frontstretch. The race will consist of 110 laps over 216 miles.

Drivers to Watch:

Alex Palou

As mentioned above, Palou has the chance to clinch the championship title after this race. He currently sits 121 points ahead of O’Ward, the only driver mathematically alive to catch Palou.

If Palou leaves Portland International Raceway with a lead of at least 108 points, he will secure his third consecutive and fourth overall series championship.

Here are the ways he can secure the title:

Palou will for sure clinch with a victory, which he has done at Portland in two of the last four years. He also finished second to Power last year and has been dominant on natural road courses this season with five wins and a runner-up finish at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in six starts.

In a scenario where O’Ward wins and secures the maximum points, Palou can still clinch by finishing second and leading a lap. This would create a tie with O’Ward, but Palou’s eight wins this season would give him the edge in the tiebreaker (most wins).

If O’Ward finishes in second place, Palou clinches the title if he finishes fourth or better. He might even clinch with an eighth-place finish, depending on the bonus points for pole and leading laps.

O’Ward needs to score at least 19 points — which is equivalent to finishing 11th if there are no points for pole or leading laps — to keep his chances alive, even if Palou ends up in 25th place or lower.

Will Power

Power won here last year in pretty convincing fashion. He led 101 of 110 laps after starting second and drove to a 9.8267-second victory over Palou. He also earned a victory here in 2017, where he led from pole.

At Portland, Power’s results have been hit or miss, finishing 13th or worse in three of his last six races, but he has also secured top-two spots in the others, including those two wins. When it comes to natural road courses this season, he has placed sixth, fifth, third, 14th, 26th, and seventh.

How to Watch Portland:

Friday, August 8: