IndyCar Gradebook: Grand Prix of Portland
- Dan Jones
- 1 day ago
- 9 min read
Álex Palou began IndyCar's stretch of six races in five weeks in perfect manner at Portland International Raceway as he took his sixth win of 2026 and edged even closer to a fifth series championship. He may have been the one on the back pages but there were plenty of impressive runs throughout the field. DIVEBOMB IndyCar Correspondent Dan Jones graded all 25 drivers' weekends in the Pacific Northwest.
Chip Ganassi Racing
No.8 - Kyffin Simpson - A-
He may not have had the result to reflect it, but Portland marked Kyffin Simpson's most impressive weekend of the year thus far. Simpson earned his best start in qualifying of the season by reaching the Fast Six and stayed competitive from there, making some excellent moves throughout the 110 laps, highlighted by a move around the outside of Christian Lundgaard at Turn 4. A slow pit stop cost Simpson a few places, but he recovered to earn himself yet another top 10 finish in his most complete weekend in recent memory.
No.9 - Scott Dixon - C
A 14th place finish at Portland marked a seventh consecutive finish outside the top 10 for Dixon, as he failed to end the worst such run of his IndyCar career. As has been the unfortunate case in recent times, it was another quiet weekend for Dixon who could not build from a Fast 12 appearance and was a non-factor on race day. His streak of victorious seasons now looks in peril with just five opportunities left.
No.10 - Álex Palou - A+
There's not much to say about that I have not already said about the driver who continues to set an unprecedented benchmark and continues to leave his competitors head-scratching at what he is doing week-in, week-out. It was an atypical Palou performance - he was patient yet decisive, under pressure yet so in control and raced with that sense of inevitability he would be in Victory Lane. It is a driver/team combination that continues to execute on unprecedented heights as he continues to chase the accomplishments it felt impossible to repeat.
Team Penske
No.2 - Josef Newgarden - B
It may have gone relatively unnoticed, but Josef Newgarden's uptick in form on road courses has been of note so far in 2026 after his disastrous 2025 and that was once again the case in Portland as he earned his fourth top 10 road course finish of the year. With his left leg continuing to improve race-by-race, Newgarden had another quiet but respectable weekend, qualifying slightly lowly in 15th before recovering to eighth on Sunday. It still isn't quite the peak Newgarden we've seen on these tracks before but there's no doubting that improvements have been made.
No.3 - Scott McLaughlin - B
As has been the case for much of the year, it was a strangely anonymous weekend for Scott McLaughlin, but the New Zealander brought home a good haul of points in the Pacific Northwest. Like his teammate, qualifying was a slight disappointment for McLaughlin in just 14th, but he made good progress on the alternate strategy finishing seventh at the chequered flag. Still not the standards we know McLaughlin is capable of but he continues to execute trouble-free weekends, unlike 12 months ago.
No.12 - David Malukas - B-
This was David Malukas' quietest weekend in Team Penske colours, but if anything, that speaks to how impressive his form has been over the first 12 races. Despite my opening statement, Malukas was still the only Penske car to transfer in qualifying but was pegged back due to an engine penalty meaning he started 15th. Malukas did not make significant progress from there on a conventional strategy at a track difficult to overtake, finishing 12th at the chequered flag. A weekend we maybe expected more of prior to the start of hte season.
Andretti Global
No.26 - Will Power - A
Although results have not shown it across the whole season, there's no doubting Will Power's experience is making a huge impact at Andretti Global and that was certainly on display at Portland. At a track Andretti have been so weak at in recent seasons, Power was strong throughout the weekend, finishing as the top Andretti in qualifying as he lined up third. Although he lost out slightly at the start, he stayed composed from there with a communication issue costing him a shot at second place. A third podium of 2026 was well deserved though with his impact undeniable given his Portland expertise.
No.27 - Kyle Kirkwood - B+
There's no doubting that Kyle Kirkwood has certainly had an impressive uptick in form on road courses throughout 2026 and that was once again the case at Portland as he earned his third top five finish on such track type this season. That said, Kirkwood lagged behind his teammates slightly all weekend, being the only Andretti who failed to transfer to the Fast Six. He would have a mistake-free race though, being the highest finishing driver who started on the unpreferred alternate tyre. His hunt to claim his best-ever championship finishing position remains very much on.
No.28 - Marcus Ericsson - A-
On the week that he was announced to return to Andretti in 2027, Marcus Ericsson proved why such faith was put in him with another all-round strong weekend at Portland. His much-improved qualifying form continued as he earned himself a spot on the second row before climbing to second early on. He was unfortunate to lose time in the first pit stop cycle when he missed the opening chicane whilst making a move on Sting Ray Robb, but remained in-and-around the top five from that point onward, finishing a comfortable sixth. Not spectacular, but a continuation of his impressive uptick in form throughout 2026.
Arrow McLaren
No.5 - Pato O'Ward - C+
Portland seemed another weekend where Arrow McLaren were unexpectedly uncompetitive, with Pato O'Ward once again a non-factor as he slumped to his third finish outside the top 10 in five races. O'Ward qualified a disappointing 17th and did not make the progress that he would have been hoping for, finishing just 11th at the chequered flag in a weekend which O'Ward described as "cutting their losses".
No.6 - Nolan Siegel - C
It is maybe a shame on Nolan Siegel's behalf that his form has improved as his team's have gone backward in a weekend he looked more on-par against his teammates. Siegel was the top McLaren in qualifying, albeit in just 16th, but had a difficult race day as he slumped to 19th at the chequered flag. He enters a crucial stretch of the season as he looks to secure a seat for 2027 and beyond.
No.7 - Christian Lundgaard - B+
For a driver touted by many as the best road course racer throughout 2026, a ninth-place finish may have been a disappointment but Christian Lundgaard and McLaren will leave Portland thankful it was not worse. Lundgaard qualified dead last after an engine issue in qualifying but made scintillating progress in the opening laps. His progress after that point was not so rapid, but certainly steady as he worked his way inside the top 10 for a ninth place finish. A great comeback considering how difficult it was to overtake but certainly not the result that they were hoping for.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
No.15 - Graham Rahal - D+
The entirety of 2026 has felt very hit-and-miss for Graham Rahal and Portland was no different. His qualifying was certainly a hit as he qualified eighth but that great work was undone so early on after he hit the barrier at the end of Lap 7. Although he was able to continue, Rahal was nowhere from that point onward as he finished 23rd and a lap down. What had been such an impressive start to the year has started to peter out.
No.45 - Louis Foster - B-
The finishing position looks no different, but it felt as if Portland was a far better weekend from Louis Foster than what the Briton has shown in recent races. Foster lost valuable practice time in the opening session with an issue and was unfortunate to miss the transfer in qualifying by the tightest of margins. Foster than competed within the top 10 for the majority of the running before the tyres and setup fell away from him in the final stint as he slumped to 15th. Better, but more is certainly required is we wants to assure himself of a 2027 drive.
No.47 - Mick Schumacher - C
A 16th-place finish at Portland marked Mick Schumacher's best on road/street this season, although that maybe speaks to how disappointing that discipline has been this season rather than Portland being an impressive result. Schumacher once again struggled in qualifying, lining up in just 23rd before quietly moving through the order throughout the 110 laps. Every weekend now matters as he looks to stay in the field for 2027.
Meyer Shank Racing
No.60 - Felix Rosenqvist - A+
You cannot fault any driver too much if the reason they weren't in Victory Lane was due to the brilliance of Palou. That was the case for Felix Rosenqvist who excelled at Portland once again as he took his second pole position of the year on Saturday and led the opening exchanges on Sunday. There was little Rosenqvist and Meyer Shank could do to prevent the inevitable Palou overcut and Rosenqvist held his ground from there, including comfortably holding off a fast-charging Power in the final stint. The Swede once again impressive as he justifies McLaren's surprise decision to sign him for 2027.
No.66 - Marcus Armstrong - C-
Whilst his teammate excelled, Marcus Armstrong struggled, with his race cut short by a third engine failure in four races. That said, it had been a difficult weekend for Armstrong who could only manage a lowly 21st in qualifying and had been a non-factor in the race until his point of retirement. Even still, another cruel mechanical blow for Armstrong in what has turned out to be a frustrating year.
Ed Carpenter Racing
No.20 - Alexander Rossi - C-
The road course struggles for Alexander Rossi and Ed Carpenter Racing continued in Portland in another underwhelming weekend. Rossi could only manage 19th in qualifying and was anonymous throughout the race, finishing where he started as the last car on the lead lap.
No.21 - Christian Rasmussen - C-
It was a very similar weekend for Christian Rasmussen as it was his teammate. Rasmussen qualified a position behind Rossi in 20th but lost four laps in the race through yet another mechanical issue. Here's hoping his strong Mid-Ohio was not a road course false dawn.
AJ Foyt Racing
No.4 - Caio Collet - C
After a promising mid-season run, Portland continued a difficult stretch of races for Caio Collet. That said, the young Brazilian had the measure of his teammate throughout the weekend. Collet qualified in 18th but started 24th after an engine penalty, ultimately finishing 20th after a quiet race. His hopes of Rookie of the Year remain intact, albeit there is a lot of work to do in the final five races.
No.14 - Santino Ferrucci - D+
It has been a miserable run of form for Santino Ferrucci and Portland was continuation of that difficult stretch. Ferrucci struggled for pace all weekend, qualifying just 22nd (on a track where he took pole just two years ago) and unable to show any meaningful pace throughout the race running. His future continues to hang in the balance with just five races for Ferrucci to prove himself.
Juncos Hollinger Racing
No.76 - Rinus VeeKay - A
It is clear to see that Rinus VeeKay has hit his stride in 2026 with Juncos Hollinger Racing and he could not have done so at a better time. Like we've seen at so many races recently, VeeKay was on the pace from the get-go and backed that up with a superb fifth-place qualifying effort. As has often been the case on Sundays, VeeKay backed up his strong qualifying form with a quiet yet formidable drive as he earned his third top five finish in five races. Like he did at Dale Coyne Racing, VeeKay is taking Juncos to unprecedented heights as he continues to establish himself as one of the most in-form drivers in the series.
No.77 - Sting Ray Robb - D
Portland proved a similar tale of woe for Sting Ray Robb's 2026 season as the American is yet to show any of the highs he has shown in previous seasons. Robb qualified a poor 24th and was not a factor throughout the race until he held up Power as the Australian embarked on his final stop. Robb had the right to fight for his position, but potentially overstepped the mark on that occasion. He finished 22nd at the flag, the last of those running without significant issue.
Dale Coyne Racing
No.18 - Romain Grosjean - C+
Although a 17th place finish was unspectacular, Portland proved a slightly improved weekend for Romain Grosjean and Dale Coyne Racing. After struggling in practice, Grosjean made a surprise transfer into the Fast 12 - so surprising his team did not have any rims to let him run again. However, things would be more tricky through the race as Grosjean fell to 17th, still without a top 10 finish since the Indianapolis 500.
No.19 - Dennis Hauger - B-
A 13th place finish is certainly not something to write home amount, but it steadies the ship for Dennis Hauger who had a clean and comfortable weekend, much needed respite after a tricky patch of form. Hauger transferred in qualifying for the first time since the season opener, and ran a steady race just outside the top 10. He finished a respectable 13th place at the finish, albeit still some distance off the heights he showed earlier in the year. Nevertheless, his lead was bolstered in the Rookie of the Year battle and a huge heap of confidence heading into the busy stretch.
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