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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 Carlos Munoz (26) 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 Carlos Munoz (26) is introduced before the Firestone 600 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

17. Carlos Munoz

The good news is that Carlos Munoz got his first IndyCar victory in 2015. The bad news is, he won because the first race of the Dual in Detroit was shortened by rain. Weather was a significant factor in getting the No. 26 to Victory Lane, so it’s hard to say for certain that last year represented any kind of turning point for the Colombian.

Munoz actually took a step back last season. He finished 13th in the league championship standings, down from placing 8th the year before. He had four finishes in the 20’s – including the other half of the Detroit doubleheader just the day after he’d been number one and the Indianapolis 500. Aside from his one victory, he never made it to the podium again, though he did produce two Top 5 finishes later in the season.

He’s not a lost cause, but Munoz is going in the wrong direction. He also needs to raise his game when it comes to the season’s biggest races. The first time he ran the Indy 500 in 2013, he nearly had the race won, and in 2014 he was still in the top five. If he wants to become an IndyCar success story, he has to find that form again and also reduce his number of finishes outside the Top 15. (Those four 20’s were the exact same number that he had the year before.) Of the Andretti trio, Munoz is the least experienced and that also means he’s got the most to learn.

Next: 16. Charlie Kimball