IndyCar: Ranking the Past 10 Series Champions

By Asher Fair | Jun 14, 2017

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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May 22, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Verizon Indy Car owner Chip Ganassi talks with three-time Indy 50 winner Dario Franchitti during qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 10 – Dario Franchitti, Chip Ganassi Racing, 2011

After trailing Will Power in the championship standings heading into the season finale at Homestead in 2010, Dario Franchitti led Will Power in the standings by an 18-point margin heading into the 2011 season finale at Las Vegas.

Or so everyone thought.

The question was, would Franchitti blow his lead as Power did the season prior, or would Power get redemption? Unfortunately, with the 15-car wreck at the Las Vegas season finale that killed two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Dan Wheldon, the true championship race ended up being cancelled.

Franchitti did not have the chance to prove himself as the true champion, and Power, despite being involved in that crash and eliminating himself from the championship anyway, ultimately had and would have had no chance to come back and take the championship from Franchitti either.

While 18 points was the largest championship-winning margin in the seven seasons spanning 2006 through 2012, how that championship was won makes it the worst season for a champion as a whole on this list. And you can bet that the circumstances ruined the championship celebration for Franchitti and would have done the same for Power.