Race recap: Alex Palou clinches IndyCar championship with win at Portland

The IndyCar Series competes at Portland International Raceway in the penultimate rate of the season. Graham Rahal earned the pole position for the second time in three races. Alex Palou, who starts 5th, can lock up the series championship. The other driver capable of catching Palou, Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon, starts 4th.

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Also on track: Myles Rowe becomes first Black major American open-wheel racing champion

Alex Palou wins IndyCar points championship

Alex Palou slams the door on the rest of the IndyCar Series, winning at Portland International Raceway to clinch the 2023 points championship with a race to spare.

Palou, who also won the 2021 title, finishes 5+ seconds ahead of Felix Rosenqvist. Palou's closest rival for the points championship -- Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon -- takes third.

The 26-year-old Spaniard heads to the season finale on Sept. 10 at WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca with a 91-point lead, with 53 the most available in that race.

Lap 90: Alexander Rossi sustains damage

He needs a new front wing after contact with Marcus Ericsson following a restart. Rossi is able to get back to the pits.

Lap 83: Agustin Canapino spins

Another Rookie of the Year hopeful finds a problem, bringing out a caution.

Lap 80: Marcus Armstrong loses a tire

He heads out of the pits without his right rear tire attached. That puts his Rookie of the Year lead in jeopardy.

Lap 78: Alex Palou keeps the lead

He is up by 7+ seconds on Scott Dixon. Then it's Felix Rosenqvist, Pato O'Ward, Josef Newgarden, Rinus VeeKay, Marcus Armstrong, Graham Rahal, Marcus Ericsson and Scott McLaughlin.

Lap 67: Alex Palou leads

He is 10+ seconds ahead of Scott Dixon.

Lap 49: No action against Alex Palou

Alex Palou comes out a pit stop and fends off Helio Castroneves with elbows out.

There's a lot of dicey action on track.

Lap 42: Alex Palou is in cruise control

He leads Scott Dixon by 3+ seconds, with Felix Rosenqvist, Pato O'Ward and Graham Rahal behind.

Lap 32: Alex Palou pits with lead

He runs his edge to 44 seconds before coming in. Scott Dixon assumes the lead until he makes his first stop.

Lap 19: Graham Rahal leads

The pole-sitter is 2+ seconds ahead of Scott McLaughlin. The first round of pit stops begin, and Colton Herta speeds on pit lane.

Lap 3: Will Power spins off track

He brings out a caution and needs a tow out of the grass.

Lap 1: Reasonably clean start

A couple of cars have weave through Turns 1-2 and lose track position. Later in the lap, some cars head off track and Romain Grosjean sustains significant damage.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyCar highlights updates crashes at Portland as Alex Palou wins