Will Power secured a victory at the 2025 BitNile.com Grand Prix of Portland held at Portland International Raceway, ending an extended winless stretch for the No. 7 car that had lasted since 2008. This triumph not only marked Team Penske’s first win of the season but also kept Power’s impressive career momentum alive amid uncertainty about his 2026 contract status.
Will Power’s Triumph Ends a Long-Standing Dry Spell for the No. 7 Car
After 15 races without a victory during the 2025 IndyCar campaign, Power finally claimed first place on Sunday, delivering Team Penske its long-awaited win. The two-time series champion, who also boasts an Indianapolis 500 victory, reached a milestone with his 45th career race win, ranking him fourth on the all-time IndyCar wins list. This win was significant because it broke the No. 7 car’s 17-year drought, a streak dating back to Danica Patrick’s sole IndyCar victory.
Christian Lundgaard of Arrow McLaren finished second, continuing his pursuit of a maiden win with his current team and first overall since July 2023. Lundgaard’s efforts included holding off off defending series champion Alex Palou from Chip Ganassi Racing to secure the runner-up position.
The Historic Dry Spell for the No. 7 Car Since Danica Patrick’s 2008 Victory
Danica Patrick’s lone IndyCar win came on April 20, 2008, at Twin Ring Motegi, where she clinched a fuel-mileage victory. Since that day, 6,324 calendar days and 297 races have passed, with the No. 7 car appearing in 277 of those events without a victory. Despite the prolonged drought, the No. 7 car has seen a fair share of podium finishes—20 in total, including six this year with Lundgaard behind the wheel.
Of these podiums, nine were second-place finishes, with Lundgaard contributing three. Other drivers who have reached the podium in the No. 7 car since Patrick’s win include Patrick herself and Sébastien Bourdais with three podiums each; Mikhail Aleshin and Alexander Rossi with two each; and James Jakes, Marcus Ericsson, Oliver Askew, and Felix Rosenqvist who each earned one podium finish.
Teammates’ Success Highlights the No. 7 Car’s Struggles and Contenders’ Potential
While the No. 7 car has failed to capture another win since Patrick, drivers sharing the same team have achieved 20 victories over the same period. Pato O’Ward leads this group with nine wins, including two during the current season. James Hinchcliffe has won three races, while Tony Kanaan, Ryan Hunter-Reay, and Simon Pagenaud each secured two victories. Mike Conway and Marco Andretti contributed one victory apiece for their teams.
The contrast between the No. 7 drivers’ struggles and their teammates’ successes accentuates the rarity of the extended winless streak. Lundgaard, currently fourth in the championship standings and the highest-ranked driver without a win this year, remains a key figure in efforts to finally end this unusual run.
Some speculate that a change might be necessary to alter fortunes.
“Maybe, if McLaren are smart, if they are the superstitious type, they’ll move Lundgaard to the No. 6 car next year. Just a thought. Anything to beat Palou, right?”
Implications for the No. 7 Car and IndyCar’s Competitive Landscape
Will Power’s victory underscores the enduring competitiveness of Team Penske and Power himself, despite ongoing contract uncertainties for the next season. Meanwhile, the No. 7 car’s prolonged lack of wins remains a curious anomaly in IndyCar history, especially given its consistent presence in races and frequent podium finishes over many seasons.
As the 2025 season progresses, attention will likely intensify on Christian Lundgaard and his ability to finally capture a win and break the No. 7 drought. His performance could reshape the competitive dynamics within Arrow McLaren and the broader IndyCar field. Until then, the legacy of Danica Patrick’s 2008 triumph continues to cast a long shadow over the No. 7 car’s quest for victory.
