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IndyCar: Driver Power Rankings After Iowa

By Asher Fair

AVONDALE, AZ - APRIL 28: Helio Castroneves of Brazil, driver of the #3 Team Penske Chevrolet drives during practice for the Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix at Phoenix International Raceway on April 28, 2017 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
AVONDALE, AZ - APRIL 28: Helio Castroneves of Brazil, driver of the #3 Team Penske Chevrolet drives during practice for the Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix at Phoenix International Raceway on April 28, 2017 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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FORT WORTH, TX – JUNE 09: Carlos Munoz, driver of the #14 ABC Supply AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet, practices for the Verizon IndyCar Series Rainguard Water Sealers 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 9, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX – JUNE 09: Carlos Munoz, driver of the #14 ABC Supply AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet, practices for the Verizon IndyCar Series Rainguard Water Sealers 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 9, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

After the 11th of 17 races this season, how do the Verizon IndyCar Series driver power rankings look? Who is trending upwards after the Iowa race, and who is falling?

NOTE: This list only includes full-time drivers. The “Last Race” category includes each driver’s rankings in the previous edition of the IndyCar driver power rankings.

Also note that since Sebastien Bourdais will be out for the season, he has been omitted from this list. However, his full-time replacement Esteban Gutierrez is included.

#20 through #17

#20. [Last Race: 20th (-)] — Esteban Gutierrez was solid at Iowa, as he ended up finishing in a career-high 13th place in just his fourth career IndyCar race and first career oval race. However, just because he hasn’t been awful doesn’t mean he moves up in these rankings, as I said in the last edition of rankings. Every full-time driver has at least one top 7 finish this season, and Gutierrez has not yet finished in the top 12. He will need to work his way up.. No. 18. Dale Coyne Racing, Honda. ESTEBAN GUTIERREZ

AJ Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet. CONOR DALY. #19. [Last Race: 19th (-)] — Conor Daly’s lack of speed this season is a direct result of his team’s lack of speed. AJ Foyt Enterprises cleaned house this past offseason, switching from Honda to Chevrolet engines and aero kits and replacing both of their 2016 drivers with new ones. However, these moves have not paid off, and have instead made Daly, a quality driver, look terrible. He currently sits in last place among full-time drivers in the championship standings.. No. 4

#18. [Last Race: 18th (-)] — Charlie Kimball is driving for a four-car powerhouse Chip Ganassi Racing team. He should not be the second-lowest full-time driver in the championship standings, especially after he has improved so much over the years and is coming off of his best career IndyCar season. With no top 5 finishes through 11 races this season, his season has pretty much been a waste so far. He needs to fix that, and fast.. No. 83. Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda. CHARLIE KIMBALL

AJ Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet. CARLOS MUNOZ. #17. [Last Race: 17th (-)] — Carlos Munoz, like Conor Daly, has suffered from a speed standpoint due to the fact that AJ Foyt Enterprises as a whole has struggled to find anything beyond subpar car setups this season. What bodes well for Munoz that does not for Daly is the fact that Munoz is actually higher than a full-time driver NOT from AJ Foyt Enterprises in the championship standings. He is a far better driver than the standings indicate.. No. 14