PORTLAND, Ore. — It’s not a question of if Alex Palou will win his fourth IndyCar championship this season, only a matter of when.

His first opportunity at clinching a third consecutive title and fourth in five years comes Sunday at Portland International Raceway, Round 15 of the 17-race schedule.

A run of utter dominance not seen since Scott Dixon in 2006 has put Palou in need of leaving Portland with a 108-point lead over Pato O’Ward, the only driver still mathematically eligible to beat him for the title. Palou is a comfortable 121 points ahead of O’Ward headed into the race.

Even so, Palou is adamant a fourth Astor Cup does not yet belong to him.

“Everybody here is saying we’ve already won,” Palou said. “Although we have a lot of points, we still need to win it. If somebody else

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