It was a beautiful sunny day in the city of roses!<\/p>\n
With only a few white clouds in an otherwise bright blue sky, a high temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit that oversaw a packed house on Labor Day Sunday provided a picturesque setting for the penultimate round for the 2022 IndyCar Series season.<\/p>\n
25 competitors representing 10 different teams made their way to the Pacific Northwest and a historic venue synonymous with \u00a0American open-wheel racing.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Portland International Raceway<\/strong><\/p>\n Seven of those competitors headed into the Grand Prix of Portland within 58 points of the points leader, Australia\u2019s Will Power and the #12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.\u00a0 <\/span>All these competitors had to do was stay within a magic number and they would be able to continue with their respective quests to capture the most prestigious series championship in all of North American open-wheel racing:<\/p>\n The Astor Cup!\u00a0 <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Seven drivers came into the weekend in contention for the title.<\/p>\n Here were their weekend statistics:<\/p>\n Either you\u2019re in, or you\u2019re out if you\u2019re more than 54 points behind the leader when the checkered flag falls.<\/p>\n The Race Recap:<\/strong> Lap 31<\/strong>: Leigh Diffey in the NBC Sports television booth described the strategy for Scott McLaughlin as: Lap 33<\/strong>: Romain Grosjean<\/strong> received a five second time penalty for cutting the chicane off Turn 1.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Lap 44<\/strong>: Alex Palou and the #10 team switched to primary black tires in an effort to try something different in making their way to the front.\u00a0 <\/span>As a result, they gave up sixth place and the move would result in a mediocre drive throughout the remainder of the race.\u00a0 <\/span>This pit stop would cause the evaporation of his quest to overcome controversy and capture the Astor Cup for the second consecutive season.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Lap 57<\/strong>: Jimmie Johnson<\/strong> spun in a 360-degree manner but continued on.\u00a0 <\/span>Shades of Danny Sullivan in the 1985 Indianapolis 500.<\/p>\n Lap 70<\/strong>: Will Power and Pato O\u2019Ward were held up by Jimmie Johnson who was playing defense for his CGR teammates.<\/p>\n Lap 72<\/strong>: A small fire post-pit stop burned the clutch in car #20 driven by Conor Daly for Ed Carpenter Racing.\u00a0 <\/span>There were initial concerns that Daly was burned as a result of the internal fire but he came out unharmed.\u00a0 <\/span>This resulted in Daly posting the first DNF of the event.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Lap 79<\/strong>: Christian Lundgaard stalled on pit road, seeing a potential Top 5 finish go awry.<\/p>\n Lap 86<\/strong>: The only caution of the day transpired when Rinus Veekay<\/strong> decked Jimmie Johnson on the front-stretch heading into Turn #1. Lap 88<\/strong>: The Green Flag came back out and contact between the Will Power and the Pato O\u2019Ward transpired as the result of a racing incident between the two heading into one.\u00a0 <\/span>Questionable blocking by O\u2019Ward to Scott Dixon transpired as both cars exited Turn 3.\u00a0 <\/span>IndyCar race control would penalize O\u2019Ward for blocking and ordered him to give up the 3rd position to Dixon, to which the young Mexican driver obliged.\u00a0 <\/span>This was the incident that officially ended O\u2019Ward\u2019s and Arrow McLaren SP’s quest for the Astor Cup in 2022.<\/p>\n Lap 94<\/strong>: Christian Lundgaard drove his #30 Honda into the paper barrier coming off of Turn 1.\u00a0 <\/span>He made it around the full circuit with the barrier stuck to his front wing without leaving behind any debris before coming down pit road to remove it.\u00a0 <\/span>The event would stay green and Lundgaard would ultimately place 21st.<\/p>\n Official Grand Prix of Portland Results:\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Podium<\/strong>: Top 5:<\/strong> Top 10:<\/strong> 11th-25th:<\/strong> In the equivalence of announcing a podium following the conclusion of an open-wheel event, what will be remembered as the key takeaways from the twenty-eighth edition of the Grand Prix of Portland:<\/p>\n 1: Tire Strategy<\/strong> Primary Tires<\/strong> – Marked by a black sidewall, these tires provide a competitive balance between speed, cornering, and durability.<\/p>\n Alternative Tires<\/strong> – Marked by a red sidewall, these tires provide a softer compound.\u00a0 <\/span>While these tires allow for faster speeds and better cornering within the turns, they tend to wear out at a quicker pace.<\/p>\n By the time the race made it to lap 44, only three drivers were seen on primary tires (Callum Ilott<\/strong>, David Malukas<\/strong>, and Felix Rosenqvist<\/strong>).\u00a0<\/span>When it became apparent that the race had the potential to go caution-free, it became a question of whether or not teams would wait for a caution to pit or not. 2: Real Racing The 28th edition of the Grand Prix of Portland was no exception. Music composer Hans Zimmer once wrote a piece of music titled: \u201cLost, but won<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>The feeling could be described Pato O\u2019Ward following the conclusion of today\u2019s event.\u00a0 <\/span>He may no longer be in contention for the Astor Cup in 2022, yet his post-race reception during his interview with NBC Sports\u2019 Kevin Lee symbolized why he is among the most well-liked drivers in the world. https:\/\/twitter.com\/IndyCaronNBC\/status\/1566541304351309835?s=20&t=MfMqGsx8SfLuAz79f29hDQ<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One of the best showcases of support an individual will ever see.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n This is what racing fans live for, and it ultimately leads to the biggest takeaway from Sunday’s race.<\/p>\n 3: The Continuing Battle for the Astor Cup<\/strong> Will Power (Team Penske)<\/strong><\/p>\n Josef Newgarden (Team Penske)<\/strong><\/p>\n Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing)<\/strong><\/p>\n Marcus Ericsson (Chip Ganassi Racing)<\/strong><\/p>\n Scott McLaughlin (Team Penske)<\/strong><\/p>\n Three Chevrolets owned by Roger Penske, and two Hondas owned by Chip Ganassi.<\/p>\n As we head into the season finale, Next Sunday at Laguna Seca, 41 points separate these five competitors.\u00a0 <\/span>Each have their respective reasonings why they want to be atop the championship stage following the conclusion of 212.6 miles.<\/p>\n Yet there is no success without their team behind them.<\/p>\n Whichever of the five builds the best Dallara, and utilizes the best strategy for 95 laps over the 2.2 mile road course will ultimately be the ones who play their cards right and be recognized as being among racing\u2019s best.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n If trends continue, the one atop that stage will be the driver of a Penske Chevrolet.\u00a0<\/span>Though anything is possible when championship battles of this magnitude transpire. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The pure spirit of competition.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not just racing, this is the spirit of what professional sports is all about.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Firestone Grand Prix of Monterrey<\/strong> will air LIVE Next Sunday with coverage beginning at 03:00 PM EST\/12:00 PM PST on NBC<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
\nThe green flag flew and 25 of the best racers in North America went down the front stretch and entered the first two turns with a clean start.\u00a0 <\/span>This is the type of start we hope to see amongst competitors heading into notorious turns such as Portland\u2019s first.\u00a0 Fans enjoyed c<\/span>lean and respectful competition as everyone minded their p\u2019s and q\u2019s very nicely.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\u201cFast, smooth, and is all going to plan.\u201d<\/em>
\nWith the exception of one instance involving Josef Newgarden later in the race, the quote would be a recurring theme for all of Team Penske throughout the remainder of the race.<\/p>\n
\nJohnson\u2019s car was unable to continue due to excessive damage, posting the second and only other DNF of the afternoon.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n
\n1st:<\/strong> #3 – Scott McLaughlin (104 Laps Led)
\n2nd:<\/strong> #12 – Will Power (2 Laps Led)
\n3rd:<\/strong> #9 – Scott Dixon<\/p>\n
\n4th:<\/strong> #5 – Pato O\u2019Ward
\n5th:<\/strong> #15 – Graham Rahal (2 Laps Led)<\/p>\n
\n6th:<\/strong> #26 – Colton Herta
\n7th:<\/strong> #27 – Alexander Rossi
\n8th:<\/strong> #2 – Josef Newgarden
\n9th:<\/strong> #77 – Callum Ilott (1 Lap Led)
\n10:<\/strong> #7 – Felix Rosenqvist<\/p>\n
\n11th:<\/strong> #8 – Marcus Ericsson
\n12th:<\/strong> #10 – Alex Palou
\n13th:<\/strong> #14 – Kyle Kirkwood
\n14th:<\/strong> #18 – David Malukas
\n15th:<\/strong> #45 – Jack Harvey
\n16th:<\/strong> #29 – Devlin DeFrancesco
\n17th:<\/strong> #06 – Helio Castroneves
\n18th:<\/strong> #51 – Takuma Sato
\n19th:<\/strong> #28 – Romain Grosjean
\n20th:<\/strong> #21 – Rinus VeeKay
\n21st:<\/strong> #30 – Christian Lundgaard
\n22nd:<\/strong> #4 – Dalton Kellett (-1)
\n23rd:<\/strong> #60 – Simon Pagenaud (-10)
\n24th:<\/strong> #48 – Jimmie Johnson (DNF)
\n25th:<\/strong> #20 – Conor Daly (DNF)<\/p>\n
\nWhen teams began to utilize different tire strategies from the 14th lap onwards, it became apparent that the team with the best strategy would capture the checkered flag first.\u00a0 <\/span>
\nBuilt by Firestone, the two types of Firehawk race tires utilized today were specifically designed for permanent road course competition.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n
\nIt was a move that proved critical to Josef Newgarden and Team Penske.\u00a0<\/span>Had they known in advance that the race would not go caution-free, they would not run what would be their final stint on the primary tires.\u00a0 <\/span>Though still in contention for his third Astor Cup, Newgarden admitted in his post-race interview with NBC Sports\u2019 Dillon Welch:
\n\u201c\u2026<\/em>it is what it is.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Throughout 2022, both in person and at home, the IndyCar Series has showcased what automobile racing is all about.\u00a0 <\/span>The respectable spirit of competition and letting it play out on its own.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n
\nIf one were to take out Rinus VeeKay\u2019s debacle with Jimmie Johnson on Lap 86, this was an example of a purely competitive event that was not entirely centered around who built the fastest car, but tire strategy and who was willing to adapt.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span>
\nThis was highlighted in a competitive yet cordial battle for position between Pato O\u2019Ward and Graham Rahal<\/strong> at the conclusion of the race.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\nThis had shades of a post-race crowd reception from a Formula 1 event.<\/p>\n
\nWe began the day with seven competitors still in contention.\u00a0 <\/span>After the checkered flag fell upon completion of 216.37 miles, we are now down to five!<\/p>\nFeatured Image Credit: Joe Skibinski\/Penske Entertainment<\/h5>\n