Jay Penske’s Formula E team was able to collect 15 points yesterday at the first race of the Portland E-Prix double feature.

Finishing after Antonio Félix Da Costa (TAG Heuer Porsche) and Robin Frijns (Envision Racing) DS Penske driver Jean Eric Vergne seemed more than satisfied with a third place on the podium that was not in the budget but reachable.

“I think we had a good strategy and for once I had a very clean race with everybody around me […] I think it’s the first time I finish with the car in one piece.”

The two times FIA Formula E World Championship winner also spoke about the new racing strategies in constant development for these kind of peloton action on a permanent track, still relatively new to the category.

“If you don’t go to the front at the right moment You may never go to the front, but on the other hand, if you go too early You may burn too much energy and then you won’t stay at the front.”

The French driver inherited third place after the 5 second penalty given to Jaguar TCS Racing driver Mitch Evans (finishing in the first position) for causing a collision with Neom McLaren driver Jake Hughes.

Jean Eric Vergne pointed out that the window to get the perfect game figured out is getting narrower as the teams and drivers evolve with their strategies, and currently could be as short as one single lap.

The first race of the Portland E-Prix left DS Penske in the third position of the current Formula E team standings. Far away from the leader Jaguar TCS and second place TAG Heuer Porsche, but only 10 points away from the Andretti FE team that follows closely in the fourth position.