Indy Lights driver Hunter McElrea finished fifth in the Grand Prix of Portland over the weekend, maintaining third position in the drivers’ championship standings.
Starting in seventh, the Kiwi remained so until lap six when third place runner Christian Rasmussen left the circuit at turns 11 and 12 which moved McElrea up into sixth.
During the same lap, Danial Frost had a hard impact into the tyre barrier rendering his race over. Upon the race restart on lap 16, McElrea found himself in fifth.
After 35 laps of racing, that’s where the Kiwi would stay come the chequered flag.
Benjamin Pedersen held a dominant lead up front and crossed the line in first to claim his first-ever victory.
Australian driver Matthew Brabham claimed the second spot on the podium after starting the race in sixth, while championship leader Linus Lundqvist rounded out the top three places.
McElrea maintains third position in the championship points standings and sits just 11 points behind Brabham.
It’s likely Lundqvist will become Indy Lights champion for 2022 next weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca as he only needs at least 54 points to lock in the trophy.
All will be decided after the two-race Indy Lights Grand Prix of Monterey weekend on September 10 and 11.
