IndyCar: Top Five Oval Track Drivers

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Jul 10, 2016; Newton, IA, USA; Verizon Indy Car driver Josef Newgarden (21) leads drivers Scott Dixon (9) and Simon Pagenaud (22) into turn two late during the Iowa Corn 300 at Iowa Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1: Josef Newgarden, Team Penske

In this list’s #1 spot, we have the driver who scored the most points in oval races last season. He did so despite a devastating crash at Texas that led to a last place finish.

Newgarden won at Iowa in perhaps the most dominant fashion that the Verizon IndyCar Series has seen, leading 282 of the race’s 300 laps and lapping all but one car. He had finished in 2nd place in the previous two races at Iowa.

He also took 6th place at Phoenix, 4th place at Pocono, and 3rd place in the Indianapolis 500. His finishes at Phoenix and Indianapolis were career bests.

Now driving for Team Penske, a much larger team than Ed Carpenter racing for whom he drove a season ago, Newgarden should be able to at least continue if not improve upon his amazing success on oval tracks.