Episode #393: 2022 IndyCar Grand Prix of Portland Report

Motorsport101

Just what the IndyCar world needed - Another dominant New Zealander called Scott. But my goodness, he's driving out of his skin at the moment. In IndyCar's penultimate race of the year, it was Scott McLaughlin that kept his very thin chances of winning the Astor Cup alive with a lights-to-flag victory. Scott led 104 out of 110 laps and never really looked like losing. Is he the favourite for 2023?

We also give an extended deep dive into the three main contenders going into the season finale. Will Power, a man who's come alive post Indy 500. 11 Top 4 finishes this season, and with a 2nd in Portland, remains in control with a 20 point lead. Will Power find a way to shrug off the concerns over his luck in title deciders?

Scott Dixon has been a model of consistency as well. His qualifying has been lacking but has always come back as a strong Sunday man. An average finish of under 7 is incredible. But if this doesn't become Astor Cup #7 for the Kiwi, will his 1mph speed limit breach at the Indy 500 cost him everything for the season?

And then on the other end of the scale, Josef Newgarden. The first man to win 5 races in an IndyCar season since Simon Pagenaud in 2016. THE Oval driver of the season. At times, unstoppable, unfathomable pace. But also, some errors and some bad luck have scattered his season all over the map. Iowa 2's broken car might have derailed his season without us realising it. Can he launch one final comeback?

We break it all down, as well as the Rookie of the Year fight, on Motorsport101!