IndyCar: Power wins in Portland, Newgarden extends championship lead

Team Penske’s Will Power has won the Grand Prix of Portland at Portland International Raceway, the 16th round of the 2019 IndyCar Series. His teammate Josef Newgarden, who finished fifth at Portland, stayed in the championship lead with one more race on a calendar, the season’s finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on September 22.

The victory for the driver of the #12 Verizon Chevrolet was his second triumph this year and 37th IndyCar victory in a career. Power shared a podium with Felix Rosenqvist (Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda) and Alexander Rossi (Andretti Autosport, Honda). Pole-sitter Colton Herta (Harding Steinbrenner Racing) finished fourth.

Will Power’s #12 Verizon Chevrolet

In the 105-lap race at 12-turn 1.964-mile track, Power was in the lead for 52 laps. The defending champion Scott Dixon was in the lead in the #9 CGR Honda with the three-second advantage when he suffered a battery failure on Lap 52. The pit stop dropped him three laps behind and he finished 16th.

Josef Newgarden holds a 41-point lead on Alexander Rossi and a 42-point lead on third-placed Simon Pagenaud (Team Penske). Scott Dixon is fourth, 85 points down to Newgarden. He is still theoretically in contention for defending the title at the season-ending race that will bring double points. Newgarden can secure his second championship title by finishing fourth or better at Laguna Seca.