The Grand Prix of Portland (currently is known as the OnlyBulls Grand Prix of Portland for sponsorship reasons) is a race that is in the IndyCar Series held at the Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon. The race was an annual event from 1984 to 2007, initially as a race in the CART series, and later it was part of the Champ Car World Series. Then after a ten-year hiatus, the race made its return with being added to the IndyCar Series in the 2018 season.
History Championship car racing first appeared in the Portland area in June 1909, at the 14.6-mile Portland Road Race Course. Two 3-lap races were held, followed by a 7-lap main event titled the Wemme Cup, which was won by Bert Dingley.
Portland is best-remembered as being the site of two of the closest finishes on a road course in Indy car racing history. In 1986, Michael Andretti lost fuel pressure on the final turn of the final lap, in which it allowed his father Mario to catch up and beat him to the finish line by 0.070 seconds. At the time, it was the closest finish of any race in Indy Car history. In 1997, in a rare three-wide finish, Mark Blundell beat second place Gil de Ferran by 0.027 seconds, and beat third place Raul Boesel by 0.055 seconds. For a road course race, it was the all-time closest finish in CART series history, as well as the closest three-car finish in series history.
For nearly its entire existence, the title sponsor of the race was sporting goods retailer G.I. Joe's and took place in June, during or around the Portland Rose Festival. Numerous times, the race was held on Father's Day. After a ten-year hiatus, the race made its return to the IndyCar Series in the 2018 season. From 2018 to 2023, the race was held in September on or around Labor Day weekend. In 2024, the race was moved to August to accommodate the new IndyCar schedule. Since returning to the calendar, the race has been promoted by Green Savoree Racing Promotions. In 2025, August would remain the month of the event along with the NASCAR event later that month.
Race winners SeasonDateDriverTeamChassisEngineRace DistanceRace TimeAverage Speed(mph)Report Laps Miles (km)CART/Champ Car World Series course 1984 June 17 Al Unser Jr. Galles Racing March 84C Cosworth104199.16 (320.516)1:53:17105.484 Report 1985 June 16 Mario Andretti Newman/Haas Racing Lola T900 Cosworth104199.16 (320.516)1:51:35107.083 Report 1986 June 15 Mario Andretti (2) Newman/Haas Racing (2) Lola T86/00 Cosworth104199.16 (320.516)1:50:53107.759 Report 1987 June 14 Bobby Rahal Truesports Lola T87/00 Cosworth104199.16 (320.516)1:50:02108.59 Report course 1988 June 19 Danny Sullivan Penske Racing Penske PC-17 Chevrolet-Ilmor104199.888 (321.688)1:57:17102.253 Report 1989 June 25 Emerson Fittipaldi Patrick Racing Penske PC-18 Chevrolet-Ilmor104199.888 (321.688)1:55:20103.984 Report 1990 June 24 Michael Andretti Newman/Haas Racing (3) Lola T90/00 Chevrolet-Ilmor104199.888 (321.688)1:48:22110.643 Report 1991 June 23 Michael Andretti (2) Newman/Haas Racing (4) Lola T91/00 Chevrolet-Ilmor104199.888 (321.688)1:44:06115.208 Report course 1992 June 21 Michael Andretti (3) Newman/Haas Racing (5) Lola T92/00 Ford-Cosworth XB102198.9 (320.098)1:53:25105.219 Report 1993 June 27 Emerson Fittipaldi (2) Penske Racing (2) Penske PC-22 Chevrolet-Ilmor C102198.9 (320.098)2:03:5496.312 Report 1994 June 26 Al Unser Jr. (2) Penske Racing (3) Penske PC-23 Ilmor D102198.9 (320.098)1:50:43107.777 Report 1995 June 25 Al Unser Jr. (3) Penske Racing (4) Penske PC-24 Mercedes-Benz-Ilmor102198.9 (320.098)1:54:49103.933 Report 1996 June 23 Alex Zanardi Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard 96I Honda98191.1 (307.545)1:50:25103.837 Report course 1997 June 22 Mark Blundell PacWest Racing Reynard 97I Mercedes-Benz-Ilmor78*153.426 (246.915)2:00:1276.575 Report 1998 June 21 Alex Zanardi (2) Chip Ganassi Racing (2) Reynard 98I Honda98192.766 (310.226)1:54:06101.355 Report course 1999 June 20 Gil de Ferran Walker Racing Reynard 99I Honda98192.962 (310.542)1:47:44107.457 Report 2000 June 25 Gil de Ferran (2) Penske Racing (5) Reynard 2KI Honda HRK112220.528 (354.905)2:00:46109.564 Report 2001 June 24 Max Papis Team Rahal Lola B01/00 Ford-Cosworth76*149.644 (240.828)2:00:20 74.606 Report 2002 June 16 Cristiano da Matta Newman/Haas Racing (6) Lola B02/00 Toyota110216.59 (348.567)2:03:19105.381 Report 2003 June 22 Adrián Fernández Fernández Racing Lola B02/00 Ford-Cosworth XFE100196.9 (316.879)1:56:16101.602 Report 2004 June 20 Sébastien Bourdais Newman/Haas Racing (7) Lola B02/00 Ford-Cosworth XFE94185.086 (297.867)1:45:50104.923 Report course 2005 June 19 Cristiano da Matta (2) PKV Racing Lola B02/00 Ford-Cosworth XFE105206.22 (331.878)1:51:51110.616 Report 2006 June 18 A. J. Allmendinger Forsythe Racing Lola B03/00 Ford-Cosworth XFE105206.22 (331.878)1:48:32113.989 Report 2007 June 10 Sébastien Bourdais (2) Newman/Haas Racing (8) Panoz DP01 Cosworth XFE103202.292 (325.557)1:45:42114.816 Report2008–2017 Not heldIndyCar Series course 2018 Sept. 2 Takuma Sato Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (2) Dallara DW12 IR-18 Honda105206.535 (332.386)2:00:09102.971 Report 2019 Sept. 1 Will Power Team Penske (6) Dallara DW12 IR-18 Chevrolet105206.535 (332.386)1:58:43104.225 Report 2020 Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2021 Sept. 12 Álex Palou Chip Ganassi Racing (3) Dallara DW12 IR-18 Honda110216.37 (348.214)2:07:04102.011 Report 2022 Sept. 4 Scott McLaughlin Team Penske (7) Dallara DW12 IR-18 Chevrolet110216.37 (348.214)1:56:15111.493 Report 2023 Sept. 3 Álex Palou (2) Chip Ganassi Racing (4) Dallara DW12 IR-18 Honda110216.37 (348.214)1:57:01110.758 Report 2024 Aug. 25 Will Power (2) Team Penske (8) Dallara DW12 IR-18 Chevrolet110216.37 (348.214)1:55:34112.161 Report 2025 Aug. 10 Will Power (3) Team Penske (9) Dallara DW12 IR-18 Chevrolet110216.37 (348.214)2:01:06107.038 Report 2026 Aug. 9 Álex Palou (3) Chip Ganassi Racing (5) Dallara DW12 IR-18 Honda110216.37 (348.214)1:55:03112.661 Report
Notes 1997 & 2001: Race shortened due to time limit.
Support race winners
Indy NXT (formerly Indy Lights) Season Date Winning driver Chassis Engine TeamAmerican Racing Series 1988 June 19 Tommy Byrne March Buick Opar Racing R & K Racing 1989 June 25 Tommy Byrne March Buick Landford Racing 1990 June 24 Paul Tracy March Buick Landford Racing Indy Lights 1991 June 23 Éric Bachelart March Buick Landford Racing 1992 June 21 Franck Fréon March Buick Landford Racing 1993 June 27 Franck Fréon Lola Buick John Martin Racing 1994 June 26 André Ribeiro Lola Buick Tasman Motorsports 1995 June 25 Greg Moore Lola Buick Forsythe Racing 1996 June 23 Gualter Salles Lola Buick Brian Stewart Racing 1997 June 22 Hideki Noda Lola Buick Indy Regency Racing 1998 June 21 Guy Smith Lola Buick Johansson Motorsports 1999 June 20 Philipp Peter Lola Buick Dorricott Racing 2000 June 25 Jason Bright Lola Buick Dorricott Racing 2001 June 24 Damien Faulkner Lola Buick Dorricott Racing 2002–2017 Not Held 2018 September 1 Patricio O'Ward Dallara Mazda Andretti Autosport September 2 Patricio O'Ward Dallara Mazda Andretti Autosport 2019 August 31 Rinus VeeKay Dallara AER Juncos Racing September 1 Toby Sowery Dallara AER HMD Motorsports Team Pelfrey 2020canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2021 September 11 David Malukas Dallara AER HMD Motorsports September 12 Kyle Kirkwood Dallara AER Andretti Autosport 2022 September 4 Benjamin Pedersen Dallara AER Global Racing Group with HMD MotorsportsIndy NXT 2023 September 3 Louis Foster Dallara AER Andretti Autosport 2024 August 25 Jacob Abel Dallara AER Abel Motorsports 2025 August 10 Dennis Hauger Dallara AER Andretti Global 2026 August 9 Alessandro de Tullio Dallara AER A. J. Foyt Racing
USF Pro 2000 Championship (formerly Pro Mazda/Indy Pro 2000) Season Date Winning driver2018 September 1 Oliver Askew September 2 David Malukas2019 August 31 Kyle Kirkwood September 1 Kyle Kirkwood2020canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.2021Not held.2022 September 2 Louis Foster September 2 Reece Gold September 3 Reece Gold2023 September 1 Kiko Porto September 2 Michael d'Orlando September 3 Nikita Johnson2024 August 23 Nikita Johnson August 24 Nikita Johnson2025 August 9 Max Garcia August 10 Max Garcia2026 August 7 G3 Argyros August 8 Leonardo EscorpioniSource:
USF2000 Championship Season Date Winning driver2018 September 1 Kyle Kirkwood September 2 Kyle Kirkwood2019 August 31 Hunter McElrea September 1 Hunter McElrea2020canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.2021Not held.2022 September 2 Jace Denmark September 2 Mac Clark September 3 Michael d'Orlando2023 September 2 Jacob Douglas September 2 Jacob Douglas September 3 Simon Sikes2024 August 23 Michael Costello August 24 Max Garcia August 24 G3 Argyros2025 August 9 Thomas Schrage August 9 Jack Jeffers August 10 Teddy Musella2026 August 7 Oliver Wheldon August 8 Oliver WheldonSource:
USF Juniors Season Date Winning driver2024 August 23 Liam McNeilly August 23 Liam McNeilly August 24 Liam McNeilly2025 August 9 Leonardo Escorpioni August 9 Leonardo Escorpioni August 10 Ty FisherSource:
Atlantic Championship Season Date Winning driver 1984 June 10 Dan Marvin 1985 September 8 Jeff Wood 1986 August 24 Ted Prappas 1987 June 13 Dean Hall September 13 R. K. Smith 1988 August 28 Mitch Thieman 2002 June 16 Luis Díaz 2003 June 22 Ryan Dalziel 2004 June 19 Jon Fogarty June 20 Jon Fogarty 2005 June 18 Tõnis Kasemets June 19 Tõnis Kasemets 2006 June 18 James Hinchcliffe 2007 June 9 Robert Wickens June 10 Kevin LacroixSource:
Stadium Super Trucks Season Date Winning driver 2019 August 30 Sheldon Creed September 1 Matthew Brabham2020canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Source:
Race summaries CART PPG Indy Car World Series
1984: The CART series debuted at Portland International Raceway in 1984. It was also the first race which CART utilized radial tires. Mario Andretti and Danny Sullivan swept the front row in Lola T-800 machines, the only two Lola chassis in the field. Andretti, however, dropped out early with engine problems, and Sullivan suffered gear box trouble. Al Unser Jr. took the lead for the final time on lap 39, and led all the way to the finish for his first-career Indy car victory. Geoff Brabham finished second. 1985: Mario Andretti passed Al Unser Jr. for the lead with 19 laps to go, and pulled out to a 25-second victory. Unser Jr. led 49 laps, but after his final pit stop, a bad set of tires and fuel concerns forced him to slow his pace. Andretti was trailing by nearly 15 seconds, but a fast final pit stop, and handling adjustments allowed him to quickly close the gap and drive to victory. It was his second win in a row, and his third victory of the 1985 season. Indy 500 winner Danny Sullivan started on the pole position, but dropped out on lap 6 due to steering failure. 1986: In one of the most dramatic finishes in CART history, Mario Andretti beat his son Michael Andretti to the finish line by 0.07 seconds. It was the closest finish in Indy car racing history at the time. With ten laps to go, Michael led Mario by over eight seconds, and looked to be on his way to a dominating victory. Al Unser Jr. was in third position right on the back bumper of Mario. In the closing laps, however, Michael began experiencing fuel pickup problems. Mario and Unser Jr. were charging, and began trimming the lead. At the white flag, Michael still led by three seconds, but his engine was sputtering. As the cars came off the final corner, Michael's engine quit and he began to coast down the inside of the frontstretch. Mario and Unser Jr. raced to the finish line, and Mario nipped Michael at the line by about two feet. Unser came home a close third. In victory lane, a dejected Michael Andretti declared the win a Father's Day gift for Mario.