Palou Clinches Fourth IndyCar Title in Five Years as Portland Delivers Championship Drama
Aug 11th, 2025
In a race packed with drama and high stakes, Alex Palou clinched his fourth IndyCar Series championship in five years at Portland, his third straight title, by finishing third behind race winner Will Power, who claimed the team's first victory of the season
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images/File Photo
Mechanical Woes Shift the Landscape:
Pato O’Ward, who had come into the weekend as the only driver still mathematically capable of denying Palou the championship, suffered a sudden electronic malfunction early in the race. This forced a long pit stop and dropped him to 25th place—effectively ending his title hopes.
Pato O'Ward pit stop during the INDYCAR Series at Portland - Credit: Fox News
Palou’s Relentless Resolve:
Despite entering Portland with a comfortable 121-point lead, Palou did not let up. "It’s unbelievable; it’s crazy,” he said after the race. “I couldn’t be happier right now. This has been an amazing season, an amazing five years with CGR... I have no words to describe how grateful I am to everybody at CGR”
Click above to see his post-race reaction and interview.
By capturing the title with two rounds still to go, Palou becomes one of an elite group, joining the ranks of Dario Franchitti, Sebastien Bourdais, and Ted Horn with three consecutive championships. And his four titles place him just behind legends A.J. Foyt and Scott Dixon in IndyCar history.
A Team Effort:
The victory also represents the 17th series championship for Chip Ganassi Racing, matching Team Penske for the most in IndyCar history. Reflecting on Palou’s achievement, Ganassi shared: “I’ve never seen a guy work so quietly and diligently at his craft as this guy... I still think he's got more in his tank... I couldn’t be more pleased.”
In summary, Portland was not just another race—it was the coronation of a true IndyCar dynasty, built on exceptional consistency, calculated drive, and unrelenting ambition. With two races left in the season, Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing are already legacy-bound.
Credit: Fox Sports
Credit: IndyCar
