The final road course event of the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season lands this weekend at Portland International Raceway. Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou has won two of the last three BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland events with Scott McLaughlin scoring the 2022 victory for Team Penske at PIR.
In addition, Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing have combined to win four of the five natural road course events this season. Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren is the only exception, victorious July 7 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Can anyone emerge as contenders to top these teams in Sunday’s 110-lap race (3 p.m. ET, USA Network, Peacock, INDYCAR Radio Network)?
Favorites
Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 Freightliner Team Penske Chevrolet)
McLaughlin has four top-six finishes in five natural road course starts this season, including a win April 28 at Barber Motorsports Park. His 6.8 average finishing position in those races ranks fourth this season. McLaughlin is also heating up on the season with four top-three finishes in the last five races.
Scott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)
Dixon has the 15th-best average finishing position on natural road courses this season at 14.6. He lands as a favorite because the six-time series champion has three consecutive third-place finishes at PIR. Winless in seven starts, Portland is one of four active tracks where Dixon has never won, joining St. Petersburg (0-for-20), Barber Motorsports Park (0-for-14) and Iowa Speedway (0-for-21). Needing a victory to keep his realistic championship aspirations alive, that could change Sunday.
Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)
Palou has two wins and 98 combined laps led in three Portland International Raceway starts. On natural road courses this season, the Spaniard has finished fifth, first, fourth, first and second, respectively, leading to a series-best 2.6 average finishing position. He also has six top-four finishes in the last seven races this season.
Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske Chevrolet)
This is a tough driver to figure out. Power has finished 13th or worse in three of his last five PIR starts. The other two he finished first and second, respectively. On the season, Power has finished second, second, first, seventh and 11th, respectively, on natural road courses, leading to a 4.6 average finish – second-best this season. Those stats lead to a favorite over a fade.
Colton Herta (No. 26 Gainbridge Honda)
Another tough driver to predict at PIR. Herta finished fourth, eighth, sixth and 13th, respectively, in four starts. All 36 laps led came in one race – 2019. On natural road courses this season, Herta has placed eighth, seventh, sixth, second and fourth, respectively, with him having a third-best 5.4 average finish. He has six top-six finishes in the last seven races this season.
Sleepers
Pato O’Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet)
O’Ward finished eighth in two of the last three natural road course races contested this season but won the other, July 7 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He also crossed the finish line fourth in his last two starts around the 1.967-mile road course at PIR.
Alexander Rossi (No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet)
Rossi has four top-seven finishes in five PIR starts to go along with three top-eight finishes in his last four natural road course starts this season.
Graham Rahal (No. 15 Hendrickson Honda)
Results-wise, Rahal has one top-five finish in six Portland starts. However, leading 59 combined laps in the last three Portland races with two top-10 finishes, he has been fast. He also won the NTT P1 Award last season at PIR. On the natural road course tracks this season, Rahal has finishes of 11th, ninth, 10th, 24th, and 18th, respectively. This is a great opportunity for Rahal to shine.
Kyle Kirkwood (No. 27 AutoNation Honda)
Kirkwood finished 13th as a Portland rookie with AJ Foyt Racing in 2022. He placed 10th last year in his first season with Andretti Global. This year, Kirkwood has the fifth-best average finishing position on natural road courses at 7.8, including two fifth-place results in the last three races.
Felix Rosenqvist (No. 60 AutoNation/SiriusXM Honda)
Rosenqvist finished second, sixth, 10th, second, respectively, in four Portland starts. On natural road courses this season, he has three top-11 results in five tries.