It’s a busy episode for The Race IndyCar Podcast which has the Portland race to review, a look ahead at the Laguna Seca season finale and one of its drivers edging closer to an F1 chance to consider.

Hosts Jack Benyon and JR Hildebrand look back on a less eventful than expected Portland race, running out of superlatives for touring car convert Scott McLaughlin who netted his third win of the season, and examining the strategy call that could end up costing Josef Newgarden the title.

Will Power’s post-race comments on wanting to win this year’s title for his crew are also contextualised in his new mental approach for this season.

Jack and JR also give their takes on who is favourite to clinch the title in California this weekend with five drivers still in the hunt for the Astor Cup trophy heading to Laguna Seca.

And there's still time for the duo to discuss Colton Herta, with Red Bull having given its most obvious intention yet that it wants the American to be its next protege at AlphaTauri, if he can gain an F1 super licence. But is Herta the best driver to pick from the current IndyCar grid? Our hosts assess his credentials...

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