PORTLAND, Ore. – Team Penske circled the Portland International Circuit on Saturday in a 1-2-3 qualifying comeback that left the IndyCar championship leaders poised to beat Ganassi in the title match.
Scott McLaughlin took the pole – his third of the season – and took a point for that to give him a shot at the long-shot title. McLaughlin entered Sunday’s race in sixth place, 53 points behind teammate Penske and IndyCar points leader Will Power.
“We know the rules. We’re Team Penske drivers,” McLaughlin said. “We knew what we needed to do when we got hired: When the team wins, we all win. And for me, until I get past the math, I want to keep working hard and keep trying. try to win races.”
Josef Newgarden, who is three points behind Power with two races remaining in the IndyCar season, qualified second. But he will take a six-point grid penalty at the start of Sunday’s race to change engines.
All three of Penske’s drivers are among seven who are still mathematically qualified to win the championship. The lead has changed hands seven times this season and the three points gap between Power and Newgarden is the closest to the other two races since 2008.
The 43 points gap between the top 5 drivers is the tightest title chase since 2003, when 41 points separated the top 5 drivers.
“I think it’s open,” Newgarden said. “I’ve seen this change completely, race after race. I wouldn’t rule anything out.”
Power is third and will start on top alongside McLaughlin for the Newgarden penalty. Team Penske dominated the weekend and used the final day of testing of the season on a 12-turn, 1,964-mile track.
Chip Ganassi Racing, meanwhile, has sent all four of its drivers to the test at Laguna Seca, the venue for next Sunday’s season finale.
The test selection was evident in Portland, where Penske cars dominated the entire weekend and reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou was the only Ganassi driver to progress to the final quick six qualifying.
“We weren’t brilliant here last year, but you know, we’re back with three hot sticks,” McLaughlin said.
Scott Dixon and Marcus Ericsson, Indianapolis 500 winners, 14 and 17 respectively, didn’t make it out of the first qualifying round. Dixon will start 16th and Ericsson will start 18th, the lowest of the contenders for the title.
Power doesn’t think Ganassi’s poor qualifying attempt warrants anything for the Penske trio.
“You can never feel secure when you’re well-qualified because it’s just convertible,” says Power.
Newgarden, meanwhile, hasn’t been fazed by his change-of-engine penalty since his arrival in Portland. He admitted it was “not ideal” but doubted it would derail his race, then headed out on Friday with the fastest car.
Newgarden topped the only Friday practice session, which had to be stopped for 81 minutes so the side video board could be properly secured. A hydraulic element failed and put the board in danger of collapsing near the start/finish line.
He will drop to eighth at the start but is chasing a sixth-best winning streak of the season.
“I wouldn’t rule anything out. I think we all have to be in our game,” Newgarden said. “We feel really pleased to be together and have fast cars. I think the team has done a great job giving us these great cars to fight with. Should give We have the opportunity to grow together.”
Christian Lundgaard made it through to qualifying fourth, while Palou, the defending race winner, was fifth and Pato O’Ward was sixth. O’Ward is 58 points behind Power but still qualified for the title.
