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IndyCar: Ranking the Past 10 Series Champions

By Asher Fair

Sep 18, 2016; Sonoma, CA, USA; Hewlett Packard Enterprise driver Simon Pagenaud (center) celebrates his win and the title with Verizon Team Penske driver Juan Pablo Montoya (right) and Steak’n Shake driver Graham Rahal (left) after the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Sonoma, CA, USA; Hewlett Packard Enterprise driver Simon Pagenaud (center) celebrates his win and the title with Verizon Team Penske driver Juan Pablo Montoya (right) and Steak’n Shake driver Graham Rahal (left) after the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 18, 2016; Sonoma, CA, USA; Hewlett Packard Enterprise driver Simon Pagenaud (center) celebrates his win and the title with Verizon Team Penske driver Juan Pablo Montoya (right) and Steak’n Shake driver Graham Rahal (left) after the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Sonoma, CA, USA; Hewlett Packard Enterprise driver Simon Pagenaud (center) celebrates his win and the title with Verizon Team Penske driver Juan Pablo Montoya (right) and Steak’n Shake driver Graham Rahal (left) after the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /

This season’s IndyCar championship battle is extremely tight and many drivers still have a legitimate chance to win. Since 2007, which drivers have had the best championship seasons?

At the end of the day, a champion is a champion. But to get to that point, things have to happen. In fact, lots of things have to happen. Plenty of races, marquee events, career-defining moments and much, much more have to happen for a good championship battle in the Verizon IndyCar Series.

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In the 10 full IndyCar seasons since 2007, which drivers have had the best championship seasons? Since that season, IndyCar has seen five different champions prevail in those 10 championship battles, and all 10 of those battles have been decided in the final race of the season.

Despite all 10 of the championship battles coming down to the last race, they have all been won differently. This list takes in account things like total race wins, clutch performances, Indianapolis 500 performances and final championship points lead to determine the order, 10th to 1st, of how great of a season each of the past 10 champions has had leading up to their championship victory.

To clarify before we start off with 10th place, this list is about how good of a season each of the past 10 champions has had, not necessarily how great each of the past 10 seasons and championship battles have been. Without further ado, let’s get started.