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# Podcast: Unpacking IndyCar’s frenetic Portland race
- URL: https://www.the-race.com/indycar/podcast-unpacking-indycars-frenetic-portland-race/
- Published: 2021-09-15T11:22:37.000Z
- Updated: 2023-09-16T15:54:39.000Z
- Description: Lap one chaos that sent the leaders to the back and led to crashes, diverse strategies and a come from behind winner made for an epic race at Portland which The Race IndyCar Podcast analyses this week
- Author: Josh Suttill
- Tags: IndyCar, #image-bottom-center

Lap one chaos that sent the leaders to the back and led to crashes, diverse strategies and a come from behind winner made for an epic race at Portland which The Race IndyCar Podcast analyses this week.

Hosts JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon assess the decision making behind sending drivers who had done nothing wrong at the start to the back because of its rule prioritising those who made Turn 1 and 2, and whether it is the right thing to do or if there are alternatives.

[![](https://storage.googleapis.com/the-race-com.appspot.com/1/2021/09/indyc-300x200.png)](https://www.the-race.com/indycar/why-indycar-title-rivals-stewarding-criticisms-are-unfounded/)

Why IndyCar title rivals’ stewarding criticisms are unfounded

[Read more](https://www.the-race.com/indycar/why-indycar-title-rivals-stewarding-criticisms-are-unfounded/)

The duo takes a look at the championship implications after a woeful race for Pato O’Ward meant Alex Palou’s win catapults him back into the points lead and 25 points clear of O’Ward with two races to go while Josef Newgarden, Scott Dixon and Marcus Ericsson fell further back in the points race.

Jimmie Johnson’s strong development, Callum Ilott’s debut, Graham Rahal’s bad luck and Oliver Askew’s Rahal Letterman Lanigan bow are all featured, too.

Hildebrand also tells you what to look for at this weekend’s race – the penultimate counter of the season – at the famed Laguna Seca, home of the Corkscrew.

– Listen on [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-race-indycar-podcast/id1562111488?ref=the-race.com)  
– Listen on [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/4t19zIHidmIWueAcCw5HrE?si=f1104b0a3cf240d7&ref=the-race.com)

[Sep 15 : Analysing Portland's IndyCar start mayhem](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/46530008?ref=the-race.com)