Beyond the Flag
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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: Alexander Rossi, driver of the #98 Andretti Autosport/Curb Honda, leads JR Hildebrand, driver of the #21 Fuzzy’s Vodka Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, during practice for the Verizon IndyCar Series Rainguard Water Sealers 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 9, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX – JUNE 09: Alexander Rossi, driver of the #98 Andretti Autosport/Curb Honda, leads JR Hildebrand, driver of the #21 Fuzzy’s Vodka Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, during practice for the Verizon IndyCar Series Rainguard Water Sealers 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 9, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /

#12 through #9

#12. [Last Race: 12th (-)] — Since his win at the second race of the season at Long Beach, James Hinchcliffe has struggled. In fact, his 10th place finish at Iowa was just his second top 10 finish over the past eight races, with his only other top 10 finish being a 3rd place effort at the Belle Isle race during which he spun at the start of. Hinchcliffe tends to start out seasons looking like a championship contender but fade toward the middle of the pack in the middle of the season. That has been the case this season once again.. No. 5. Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, Honda. JAMES HINCHCLIFFE

#11. [Last Race: 15th (+4)] — Ryan Hunter-Reay finally had a good race once again this season, and he did so by collecting his fifth podium finish at Iowa in the past six seasons. His 3rd place finish made him the highest finishing Honda driver at the race despite starting toward the back of the field, and it tied his season-best finish of 3rd place at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis. It has been almost two years since Hunter-Reay went to Victory Lane, however.. No. 28. Andretti Autosport, Honda. RYAN HUNTER-REAY

No. 21. Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet. JR HILDEBRAND. #10. [Last Race: 16th (+6)] — In a road and street course-dominated IndyCar circuit, watching JR Hildebrand shine on the oval tracks is always a nice surprise. However, it may no longer be a surprise. In fact, he is arguably the best oval driver in the series right now. His 2nd place finish at Iowa was his second podium finish of the season and it tied his career-high finish of 2nd place at the infamous 2011 Indianapolis 500. Despite his struggles at every road and street course, he is within striking distance of the top 10 in the championship standings.

ALEXANDER ROSSI. #9. [Last Race: 10th (+1)] — Alexander Rossi’s 11th place finish at Iowa was his third consecutive finish outside the top 10 following a span of six races during which he finished in the top 8 five times, including four in a row. However, he moves up one spot in these rankings simply because he did better than other drivers close to him in the championship standings and in these rankings, which is the case for a number of drivers in this edition of rankings.. No. 98. Andretti Herta Autosport, Honda