Will Power remains overall leader after McLaughlin victory in Portland
New Zealander Scott McLaughlin (Penske) won the Grand Prix of Portland (Oregon), the penultimate event of the IndyCar championship, just ahead of his Australian teammate Will Power who took the opportunity to slightly increase his lead in the general classification.
Starting from pole position McLaughlin stalled after 110 laps of the race, including 104 passed in the lead, his third victory of the season.
One week before the end of the season, which will take place at Laguna Seca for the GP of Monterey (California), Power now has 523 points, or 20 points ahead of the American Josef Newgarden (Penske), who is ranked 8th, and on the New Zealander Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing) who completed the podium of the day.
“Even if it is still very difficult, we are in the best position. We have the best chance of becoming champions. We will do everything we can”commented the leader of the championship.
« Everything is possible. We’re in the race and we’ll never give up until it’s over. »responded Dixon, in search of a record seventh title.
Newgarden, who has won five races this season, also believes in his chances of being crowned champion a third time: “we will try to be fast at Laguna Seca, to win with the widest possible gap”.
The Swede Marcus Ericsson (Chip Ganassi Racing) and McLaughlin, who are respectively 39 and 41 points behind Power, can also still mathematically hope to win the championship.
On the French side, this issue concerns them all the less as they have once again failed to shine. Romain Grosjean (Andretti) finished in 19th place and Simon Pagenaud (Meyer Shank) in 23rd.
