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IndyCar: Ranking the Past 10 Series Championship Battles

By Asher Fair

Aug 30, 2015; Sonoma, CA, USA; 2nd place IndyCar Series driver Ryan Hunter-Reay, first place IndyCar Series driver Scott Dixon and 3rd place IndyCar Series driver Charlie Kimball raise their respective trophies after the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 30, 2015; Sonoma, CA, USA; 2nd place IndyCar Series driver Ryan Hunter-Reay, first place IndyCar Series driver Scott Dixon and 3rd place IndyCar Series driver Charlie Kimball raise their respective trophies after the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 25, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; IndyCar Series driver Will Power during the 2014 Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; IndyCar Series driver Will Power during the 2014 Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 8 – 2014 Championship Battle

Having had the championship lead heading into the season finales in 2010, 2011 and 2012, Will Power was in a familiar situation in 2014. However, in each of the first three seasons mentioned, he lost the championship lead in the season finale by crashing.

But 2014 was different. He led by 51 points over Helio Castroneves, the biggest lead he had ever had heading into a season finale and the biggest lead by any driver heading into a season finale since 2005. But because double points were on offer, that made it interesting.

What made it even more interesting was the fact that Helio Castroneves qualified on pole for the 2014 season finale at Fontana and Will Power qualified in 21st out of 22 cars. But while all of that looked like it would shape up to produce a close championship fight, the battle really was never close.

In fact, Will Power worked his way up and got to the front late in the race before leading eight laps. Helio Castroneves had to make a late unexpected pit stop, which put him a lap down, sealing the deal for Power, who finished five positions ahead of Castroneves and won the championship by 62 points, the largest margin since 2005 at the time.