Indianapolis 500 Driver Power Rankings

ORIOL SERVIA. #20. [Starting Position: 12th] — Oriol Servia always seems to qualify very well for the Indy 500, but he hasn’t finished the race in the top 10 since 2012, which ironically was the year he recorded his career-high finish of 4th place after he started in a career-worst 27th place. After another solid qualifying effort for the race, Servia will once again be searching for his first top 10 finish at Indy in five seasons, so his odds to take the checkered flag in 1st place are not too great.. No. 16. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Honda

[Starting Position: 23rd] — Simon Pagenaud has become much better on oval tracks over the past couple of seasons, and he won his first career oval race at Phoenix just last month. But the one oval race that he has been consistently unable to perform well at is the Indy 500, where his top finish is just 8th place in five attempts. Starting deep in the field at a race he has not had much success at, Simon Pagenaud, despite his great IndyCar resume, should not be considered a favorite for this year’s Indy 500.. No. 1. Team Penske, Chevrolet. SIMON PAGENAUD. #19

Team Penske, Chevrolet. HELIO CASTRONEVES. #18. [Starting Position: 19th] — Helio Castroneves is the only three-time Indy 500 champion in this year’s field. However, what often goes ignored when the odds come out is that he has won just one Indy 500 over the past 14 seasons and has just one podium finish since he won the race in 2009. Also, he has no IndyCar wins since 2014. It would be incredible to see his name added to the short list of four-time Indy 500 champions, but there are plenty of younger and faster drivers with a better chance at winning this year’s race.. No. 3

#17. [Starting Position: 9th] — While Will Power is one of just three Chevrolet drivers starting the race in the top 17, don’t let his starting position of 9th place fool you. This will be his ninth consecutive top 9 start at the Indy 500, but it is tied for his lowest start since 2008 when he started the race in 23rd. Team Penske and Chevrolet as a whole have lacked speed this month, but Power simply knows how to qualify well at Indy. What keeps him from being higher on this list are his struggles actually racing at Indy and the fact that he hasn’t finished an Indy 500 higher than his starting position since 2009.. No. 12. Team Penske, Chevrolet. WILL POWER

#16. [Starting Position: 22nd] — Aside of his 3rd place finish last season, Josef Newgarden has just one top 24 finish at the Indy 500 in five attempts. This season, both Team Penske and Chevrolet as a whole have struggled to find great speed, and Newgarden is starting deep in the field because of it. This will probably be his toughest race yet in his young career as a Team Penske driver, but with his talent, he shouldn’t be counted out completely.. No. 2. Team Penske, Chevrolet. JOSEF NEWGARDEN