The 14th round of the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES marks the sole visit to the Pacific Northwest for the 14 Chevrolet-powered drivers and teams. The action takes place at the 1.964-mile, 12-turn Portland International Raceway, situated beneath the towering mountains and surrounded by pine forests. This road course offers a challenging layout that demands precision and rhythm from the drivers as they compete for crucial points late in the season.
Rhythm and Precision Critical at Portland’s Complex Corners
Portland International Raceway is known for its demanding sequence between Turns 4 and 7, which many drivers describe as a continuous corner. David Malukas of A.J. Foyt Racing highlighted the importance of mastering this section.
“The key to getting around Portland is all about rhythm. Making sure you’re on the right track from Turn 4 to Turn 7,”
he said. He also noted,
“The most challenging aspect of the track would have to be Turn 4 to Turn 7. It all feels as if it’s just one corner. You mess up Turn 4 and the rest will be out of sync.”
The track layout favors Chevrolet’s powertrain, particularly through its mid to high-speed corners. Malukas emphasized this advantage, stating,
“This track favors Chevy power with the majority of corners being mid to high-speed corners. Chevy excels in its top end power.”
First Impressions and Challenges for Newer Drivers
Santino Ferrucci, also representing A.J. Foyt Racing, recalled his first experience racing at Portland. After having run street courses in Detroit previously, he found Portland to be a distinct challenge with a very traditional feel.
“I think it’s one of the better tracks that we get to go to. I think it races really well. It’s super old school. The pavement is old, there’s no runoff. It’s been around in IndyCar for a long time. It’s a great track and it hasn’t really changed,”
Ferrucci explained.
Discussing the track’s difficulty compared to other road courses, he noted,
“Yes and no. I think it was helpful because the track was a bit shorter than some of the other road courses we go to, but it still had a really good mix of corners, high and medium speed corners with the big brake zones. So, you really got to test all of the car at the track, which was nice.”
Ferrucci pinpointed Turn 10-11 as a critical challenge.
“The most challenging part of Portland is probably turn 10 -11, that really high-speed left-right chicane that starts the lap.”
He agrees that Chevrolet’s top speed suits the long straights.
“Well, the track will favor Chevrolet because of the top speed, there’s two very long straights which are good for us.”
Familiar Local Favorites and Personal Highlights
While several drivers focus on performance, some shared their favorite local spots near Portland. Ferrucci mentioned a preferred restaurant:
“There’s a Mexican joint that I’ve been going to for a few years, ‘Who Song & Larry’s’ on the Columbia River in Vancouver.”
David Malukas said he has yet to explore much beyond the race track,
“Haven’t done much exploring outside of the Portland track to be fair so nothing that comes to mind.”
Recent Breaks and Reflections on the Season
Many drivers described their off-week activities leading up to the Portland weekend. Malukas spent time with family in Hawaii:
“Went to visit my sister in Hawaii with my girlfriend. Had a good break spending time with my family.”
Ferrucci enjoyed a relaxing trip to Napa with his wife.
“Well, my wife Renay and I took the dogs and we toured Napa, drank a lot of wine and relaxed at the hotel spa and resort. We had a really nice reset.”
On returning to the top 10 in the standings, Malukas admitted,
“It feels good to be in the top-10 after all the ups and downs. Need to focus on consistency and make sure we finish the season strong.”
Ferrucci recalled momentum from last year’s pole position in Portland:
“I think it was a huge momentum boost going into the final events of the year. From that pole, we picked up two more top-fives [Milwaukee] and another two top-10s [Portland and Nashville]. We really closed out the year super strong because of that pole.”
Arrow McLaren Drivers Aim to Build on Strong Momentum
Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren Chevrolet reflected on past struggles at Portland but expressed optimism moving forward.
“Last year at Portland was a tough one, and it hasn’t been among our best tracks, but I feel we’re in a different place now. We’ve raced up front consistently all year, and that’s the expectation entering the weekend. The championship will be an uphill battle, but we’re going to give it everything we’ve got.”
Nolan Siegel, also with Arrow McLaren, acknowledged July’s “ups and downs” but emphasized the goal for this final stretch.
“Heading into these last three races, the goal is to take that qualifying pace and turn it into complete weekends. I’ve had some good runs at Portland earlier in my career, so hopefully we can lean on that and start the weekend strong.”
Christian Lundgaard shared similar ambitions, looking to transform consistent contention into wins.
“We capped off a busy July on the podium, and I’m excited to keep pushing in the championship with three to go. The No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet has been a contender all year, but I’d really like to jump to that top step and deliver a win. With three to go, we’re looking to finish out strong starting this weekend in Portland where I’ve had some strong qualifying runs.”
Ed Carpenter Racing Drivers Eye Strong Showings on West Coast
Ed Carpenter Racing’s Alexander Rossi expressed enthusiasm for Portland after rough results earlier in July.
“I am excited to be heading back out to the West Coast for the Grand Prix of Portland. We had a bit of a rough go of it through the July stretch of races and we are more than ready to turn that around as we finish out this season. I have had some strong results at Portland in the past so hopefully we can add to that this weekend!”
Christian Rasmussen has been showing steady progress on road courses and hopes to continue that trend in Portland.
“I am very excited to get back in the Liquid Science car this weekend in Portland! We have had good road course finishes this year, including the most recent one in Laguna Seca. We’re getting to the point where we are able to fight for Top 10s pretty consistently and we should be able to continue that in Portland!”
PREMA Racing CEO Highlights the Technical Challenge of Portland
Piers Phillips, CEO of PREMA Racing INDYCAR, emphasized the circuit’s demanding characteristics.
“Portland is a fast, flowing circuit with a notoriously tricky opening chicane that can make or break a race. It demands sharp reactions and the ability to capitalise on opportunities in a tight midfield fight. The performance we have shown as a team over the last few events has been encouraging, highlighting the hard work that has gone on not only trackside but back at base in Indiana, as we head into the final stretch of our debut season. We’re focused on executing clean weekends and building on the momentum we’ve worked hard to create.”
Team Penske Prepares for Competitive Weekend in the Pacific Northwest
Josef Newgarden from Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet expressed excitement about racing in the region and the challenges of Portland’s road course.
“I love getting up to the Pacific Northwest. It’s important that we continue to hit each region of the country if we can because we have fans all over. Portland is a challenge with the flat terrain and shorter layout for a road course. Restarts are key, particularly in getting through the first corner. If we can just have a clean race I like our chances to keep the Astemo Chevy up front and challenge for a win.”
Scott McLaughlin spoke about the team’s progress after Laguna Seca and relished the track’s demanding nature.
“It feels like we are starting to get our arms around the immense change we’ve gone through as a team this year. I’ve enjoyed how difficult Portland is since I came to the INDYCAR SERIES. It’s a very busy place that doesn’t give you much time to relax. This Odyssey Battery team knows how to win there – like we did three years ago – and Will (Power) got to Victory Lane last year, so we know that Team Penske has what it takes to get the job done.”
Will Power, last year’s winner at Portland, reminded of the circuit’s toughness but exuded confidence in the team’s current momentum.
“Portland is a tough place to race but going back as the defending winner certainly gives everyone on the Verizon Chevy team a shot in the arm. Everyone wants to close out the season on a positive note as we continue to build for 2026. Obviously, it has been a big year of change at Team Penske but those that were elevated to new positions are extremely talented and I think that is starting to show as everything stabilizes a bit for us. We will gather some momentum heading into these last few races of the year.”
Broadcast Schedule for the Portland Weekend
The race weekend begins with NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. ET, airing on FS1 and the INDYCAR Radio Network. The warm-up session follows later that evening at 7:30 p.m. ET, broadcast on FS2 alongside radio coverage. Sunday’s main event, the Bitnile.com Grand Prix of Portland, runs 110 laps starting at 3 p.m. ET and will be televised on FOX with radio simulcast on the INDYCAR Radio Network and SiriusXM channel 218.
Significance of Portland in the 2025 IndyCar Season
With the championship entering its critical stages, Portland International Raceway offers a pivotal battleground for Chevrolet-supported drivers aiming to capitalize on their power advantage and track knowledge. The technical demands of the circuit will test driver focus, race strategy, and vehicle setup, potentially influencing the momentum heading into the final championship rounds. Teams like Arrow McLaren, Team Penske, A.J. Foyt Racing, and Ed Carpenter Racing are all eager to leverage their progress and renewed confidence to secure valuable points and finish the season strong amid intense competition.
The experience and insights shared by Chevrolet drivers reveal respect for the circuit’s old-school character and its challenges, while each team looks to refine their approach to maximize performance. As the only visit to the Pacific Northwest on the calendar, this Portland race weekend stands as a key highlight for fans and participants alike, blending high-speed racing with strategic depth and regional enthusiasm.
