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2016 IndyCar Preseason Power Rankings

By Brittany Frederick

Jan 29, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; Scott Dixon before practice for the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; Scott Dixon before practice for the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 6, 2015; Fort Worth, TX, USA; IndyCar Series driver Jack Hawksworth (41) is introduced before the Firestone 600 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 6, 2015; Fort Worth, TX, USA; IndyCar Series driver Jack Hawksworth (41) is introduced before the Firestone 600 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

18. Jack Hawksworth

Sato’s teammate at AJ Foyt Enterprises, Jack Hawksworth will be entering his third full season of IndyCar racing and his second behind the wheel of the No. 41. What fans might not know is he’s still relatively wet behind the ears when it comes to open-wheel competition. Hawksworth spent only one season in Indy Lights and one year before that in the junior Star Mazda series, and maybe that quick ascension up the ladder might not have been the best thing for him given how he’s fared in IndyCar.

Hawksworth has yet to break through in the league. He has only one podium finish and that was in 2014 with Bryan Herta Autosport. In 2015, he never came anywhere close to a Top 3. His best results were back to back seventh places in both parts of the Dual in Detroit, two of five Top 10’s that he posted across the season. While he doesn’t have Sato’s tendency to crash out, Hawksworth just hasn’t found what’s going to make him a competitive driver every week.

It’s entirely possible that with another year or two under his belt, Hawksworth may indeed hone his skills and take that leap up from part of the field to becoming a driver to watch. But with so many other folks who are dialed in seemingly every week, until he can find that next gear and/or some of the people ahead of him get out of the way, the No. 41 will be relegated to middle of the pack status.

Next: 17. Carlos Munoz