Álex Palou wrapped up his fourth IndyCar championship in the past five seasons Sunday at Portland International Raceway when title contender Pato O’Ward lost power early in the race.
O’Ward started from the pole and was the only driver mathematically eligible to beat Palou for the championship. Palou went into Sunday with a 121-point lead over O’Ward in the standings and so long as Palou left Portland up by 108 points, he’d clinch the championship with two races left to close the season.
He won the Astor Cup just 22 laps into the race on the Portland road course when O’Ward had an electronic issue in his Arrow McLaren Chevrolet and had to make an unplanned pit stop. He returned to the track nine laps down from the leaders.
Palou finished third, and O’Ward finished 25th. Palou has the title cemented with two races remaining in the IndyCar season. Palou was feisty in the closing portion of the race. He drove off course with four laps remaining and raced Christian Lundgaard for position.
