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IndyCar: Top Five Oval Track Drivers

By Asher Fair

Jul 10, 2016; Newton, IA, USA; Verizon Indy Car driver Simon Pagenaud (22) and Josef Newgarden (21) lead the pack during the start of the Iowa Corn 300 at Iowa Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2016; Newton, IA, USA; Verizon Indy Car driver Simon Pagenaud (22) and Josef Newgarden (21) lead the pack during the start of the Iowa Corn 300 at Iowa Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 31, 2016; Lexington, OH, USA; Indy Car Series driver Will Power (12) during the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2: Will Power, Team Penske

Will Power used to be terrible at oval tracks, and it cost him three championships from 2010 to 2012. However, he is now arguably the best oval track driver in the series.

He finished in the top 10 in each of the five oval races this past season, including three podium finishes at Phoenix, Iowa, and Pocono. Power claimed his fourth career oval track victory with his win at Pocono last season.

Power has come a long way over the years in terms of how he races on ovals, and he is finally coming full-circle. Despite finishing in an oval season-worst 10th place at the double-points paying Indianapolis 500, he still managed to finish just 11 points behind the oval points leader last season.

While ovals used to harm Power’s championship chances, now they benefit them, and that has become very clear with his recent oval success.