Nick Cassidy, representing Envision Racing, brilliantly navigated the high-speed, energy-intensive Oregon venue, triumphing over Andretti’s Jake Dennis by a mere 0.294 seconds at the end of the 32-lap face-off.
Cassidy’s victory draws him within a point of championship front-runner Dennis, with just four races remaining this season.
Antonio Felix da Costa, driving for Porsche, secured the third spot on the podium. He was locked in a fierce competition for the lead with Cassidy during the race’s final moments.
The race began with a predicted emphasis on extreme energy conservation. Drivers were seen driving 10 to 12 seconds slower than their qualifying pace in an effort to reserve sufficient power for the end of the race.
Dennis led the early part of the race from the pole position, with Cassidy, initially 10th on the grid, quickly advancing. Cassidy briefly assumed the lead before falling back due to his first attack mode activation.
Nissan’s Norman Nato took the lead after a safety car was called out following Roberto Merhi’s stall on the track at Turn 7. Nato maintained his lead after the restart but gave way to Cassidy just before a second caution was announced due to a high-speed crash involving Nico Muller.
Two safety car periods resulted in the addition of four extra laps to the originally planned 28-lap race. Cassidy continued to lead post these interruptions, with the pace slowing even further in anticipation of the extra distance.
At the restart, Da Costa, who had ascended to the second position, significantly increased the pace on the 22nd lap, finally causing the field to string out.
However, da Costa couldn’t outpace Cassidy who regained the lead on lap 26. Dennis managed to secure the third spot before mounting an offensive against da Costa.
Although Da Costa initially outpaced Cassidy on lap 29, he lost his advantage in the next lap, allowing Cassidy to gain a small lead as the race neared its end.
Despite securing second place on the final lap, Dennis could not overcome Cassidy’s lead due to his limited remaining energy. Cassidy celebrated his third victory in five races, following wins in Berlin and Monaco.
Dennis’s second-place finish marked his fifth consecutive podium placement. Da Costa, finishing third, earned his first top-three finish since his Cape Town victory.
Mitch Evans of Jaguar, despite starting at P20 due to a battery and powertrain change that sidelined him during qualifying, managed a remarkable fourth place, keeping his championship aspirations afloat. Cassidy’s team-mate, Sebastien Buemi, rounded out the top five.
Other notable performers include Maximilian Gunther, who finished sixth, Sam Bird and Lucas di Grassi who followed closely, and Pascal Wehrlein who finished a disappointing ninth, falling 18 points behind in the championship race.
Nato finished 10th in a less-than-ideal race for Nissan. DS Penske team couldn’t manage to score any points after their drivers, Jean-Eric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne, had to start from the pitlane due to the team’s use of illegal scanning equipment during practice.
UPDATE: Bird was slapped with a five-second penalty for pushing another driver off the track, demoting him to 17th place. Consequently, Di Grassi was promoted to seventh place, ahead of Wehrlein and Nato, while Robin Frijns picked up the final point.
Portland E-Prix – Race Results:
- Nick Cassidy, Envision Racing
- Jake Dennis, Andretti Autosport
- Antonio Felix da Costa, Porsche Team
- Mitch Evans, Jaguar Racing
- Sébastien Buemi, Envision Racing
- Maximilian Gunther, Maserati Racing
- Sam Bird, Jaguar Racing
- Lucas di Grassi, Mahindra Racing
- Pascal Wehrlein, Porsche Team
- Norman Nato, Nissan e.Dams
… (continued) [Full Results]
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Portland E-Prix Victory
Who won the Portland E-Prix?
Nick Cassidy from Envision Racing won the Portland E-Prix.
Who secured the second and third positions at the Portland E-Prix?
Jake Dennis from Andretti Autosport secured the second position, and Antonio Felix da Costa from Porsche Team finished third.
How did the energy-saving strategy impact the race?
The energy-saving strategy significantly impacted the race as drivers were lapping 10-12 seconds slower than their qualifying pace to reserve enough power for the finish.
Who experienced a high-speed crash during the race?
Nico Muller had a high-speed crash during the race, leading to one of the safety car periods.
How close is Nick Cassidy to the championship leader after his win at the Portland E-Prix?
After his win at the Portland E-Prix, Nick Cassidy is within a single point of the championship leader Jake Dennis.
Who faced penalties during the Portland E-Prix?
Sam Bird from Jaguar Racing was handed a five-second penalty for forcing another driver off the track. DS Penske team was penalized due to the use of illegal scanning equipment in the pits during practice.
How did the safety car periods affect the race length?
The two safety car periods led to four extra laps being added to the original 28-lap distance of the race.
More about Portland E-Prix Victory
- Portland E-Prix Official Website
- Envision Racing Team
- Official FIA Formula E Championship Standings
- Andretti Autosport
- Porsche Motorsport
8 comments
Poor Bird, that penalty cost him a lot. Still, he was aggressive and that’s what racing is all about.
Go Cassidy! Rooting for him all the way from New Zealand.
Dennis was so close, a tad more energy and he might have taken it. Next time mate.
Whoa! Cassidy really came through in this one! Wasnt expecting that tbh.
Super impressive from Cassidy! Energy strategy was on point. The championship is gonna be tight.
OMG! Cassidy’s win just made the championship more exciting. Cant wait for the next race!
What a race!! The energy saving strategy, crashes, penalties, so much drama! This is why I love E-Prix.
Energy saving races are a thrill to watch. It’s more about strategy than just speed.