Alex Palou delivered another clinical performance at Portland International Raceway, using superior tire management and a perfectly executed overcut to defeat Felix Rosenqvist and win the 2026 OnlyBulls Grand Prix of Portland.
The Chip Ganassi Racing driver started alongside polesitter Rosenqvist and took control during the opening round of pit stops before leading a race-high 60 of 110 laps.
Palou crossed the finish line 4.1167 seconds ahead of Rosenqvist, with Will Power completing an all-Honda podium for Andretti Global.
Rinus VeeKay continued his impressive season with a fourth-place finish for Juncos Hollinger Racing, while Kyle Kirkwood completed the top five.
The victory was Palou’s sixth of the 2026 season and the 25th of his INDYCAR career, strengthening his grip on a championship that is increasingly moving toward another Chip Ganassi Racing celebration.
Rosenqvist controlled the opening stages from pole, leading Palou as the field navigated Portland’s notoriously difficult opening chicane.
Both drivers started on Firestone’s harder primary tire, while Marcus Ericsson used the softer alternate compound to move past Palou for second on Lap 4.
The race’s only caution arrived three laps later when Graham Rahal went off course approaching Turn 11 and struck the barriers.
Racing resumed on Lap 10, with Rosenqvist maintaining the lead over Ericsson and Palou.
As the opening stint progressed, Ericsson’s alternate tires began losing their early advantage. He made his first stop on Lap 25, leaving Rosenqvist and Palou to settle the battle at the front.
Palou gradually closed the gap, reducing Rosenqvist’s advantage to less than a second as the first major pit sequence approached.
Rosenqvist and Power stopped on Lap 31.
Palou stayed out.
The extra lap proved decisive.
With clear track ahead of him, Palou produced a fast in-lap before stopping on Lap 32 and switching to the alternate tires.
When the sequence cycled through following Josef Newgarden’s stop several laps later, Palou had jumped Rosenqvist and emerged with the effective race lead.
From there, the No. 10 Honda began pulling away.
By Lap 45, Palou had opened a gap of more than six seconds, and by Lap 50 the margin had stretched beyond seven seconds.
Rosenqvist remained within range as Palou’s alternate tires began fading toward the end of the stint, but the Ganassi driver had already built enough of an advantage to control the race.
Palou made his second stop on Lap 57 and switched back to the primary compound.
Rosenqvist stayed out until Lap 60 before choosing the alternate tire, setting up a contrasting strategy for the next stint.
The softer tires immediately allowed Rosenqvist to begin closing.
Palou’s advantage fell from more than five seconds to less than two as Rosenqvist used the additional grip to attack through the middle portion of the race.
Traffic added another complication.
Palou was briefly delayed while working through slower cars, allowing Rosenqvist to reduce the margin to approximately 1.2 seconds by Lap 80.
But just as the battle appeared ready to develop, Rosenqvist’s alternate tires reached the end of their strongest performance window.
He pitted on Lap 82.
Palou stopped one lap later, leaving both drivers on primary tires for the run to the finish.
Power temporarily inherited the lead on an alternate strategy and appeared to have an opportunity to challenge the leading pair with a fresh set of alternate tires available for his final stop.
That opportunity disappeared when Power missed the call to pit on Lap 86.
The Andretti driver remained on track for another lap and became trapped behind traffic, losing valuable time before finally making his stop.
When the final sequence was complete, Palou held a comfortable advantage over Rosenqvist, with Power several seconds further behind.
There would be no late challenge.
Palou steadily managed the gap over the closing laps and took the checkered flag with more than four seconds in hand.
Rosenqvist’s runner-up finish completed an impressive weekend for Meyer Shank Racing after claiming pole position, while Power continued his strong second half of the season with his latest podium for Andretti Global.
VeeKay finished fourth, earning another significant result for Juncos Hollinger Racing.
Kirkwood took fifth but lost additional ground to Palou in the championship standings.
Marcus Ericsson finished sixth to give Andretti Global three cars inside the top six, followed by Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden for Team Penske.
Christian Lundgaard recovered to ninth after starting from the rear of the field, while Kyffin Simpson completed the top 10 for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Marcus Armstrong was the race’s only retirement after reporting an engine problem during the opening third of the event.
2026 OnlyBulls Grand Prix of Portland Top 10
- Alex Palou — Chip Ganassi Racing
- Felix Rosenqvist — Meyer Shank Racing
- Will Power — Andretti Global
- Rinus VeeKay — Juncos Hollinger Racing
- Kyle Kirkwood — Andretti Global
- Marcus Ericsson — Andretti Global
- Scott McLaughlin — Team Penske
- Josef Newgarden — Team Penske
- Christian Lundgaard — Arrow McLaren
- Kyffin Simpson — Chip Ganassi Racing
More importantly for Palou, the victory transformed an already substantial championship advantage into one that will be increasingly difficult to overcome.
Kirkwood remained second in the standings but left Portland 110 points behind the four-time champion with only five races remaining.
Palou’s performance also continued a remarkable run at Portland.
The Spaniard has now won at the circuit three times, adding 2026 to victories in 2021 and 2023.
But this latest victory was another example of why Palou and strategist Barry Wanser have become so difficult to defeat.
Rosenqvist had the pole.
Power had alternative strategy options.
Ericsson had the early advantage of the alternate tires.
None of it was enough.
One perfectly executed overcut gave Palou the position he needed, and once the No. 10 Honda reached the front, the rest of the field spent the afternoon trying to catch it.
With six victories in 13 races and a championship lead stretching beyond two full race weekends, Palou left Portland with a fifth INDYCAR title moving increasingly within reach.
