Alex Palou Clinches 2023 IndyCar Championship In Portland

alex palou
(Penske Entertainment: Joe Skibinski)
alex palou
(Penske Entertainment: Joe Skibinski)

Alex Palou won the race and the IndyCar Championship at Portland International Raceway on Sunday afternoon to secure his second title in three seasons.

Palou became the first driver to clinch a championship before the finale since Dan Wheldon in 2005.

Palou led 69 of 110 laps as he fought to finish ahead of his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, and only title contender, Scott Dixon.

Dixon ended up in third after a late race shuffle caused by a yellow flag moved Felix Rosenqvist into second place, where he would finish 5.4 seconds behind Palou.

alex palou car
Palou’s win in Portland was his fifth of the 2023 season. (Penske Entertainment – Karl Zemlin)

It was an amazing weekend. We just raced how we’ve been doing all season,” Palou said during a post-race interview with NBC.

“I never thought I’d be an IndyCar champion and to be a two-time IndyCar champion just feels amazing, like a dream.”

“It was an amazing weekend. We just raced how we’ve been doing all season.”

“He’s a hell of a competitor, a huge talent,” Dixon told NBC.

The IndyCar season is scheduled to wrap up at Laguna Seca on Sept. 10.