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: Graham Rahal, driver of the #15 Mi-Jack / Bobby Rahal Automotive Honda, 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: Graham Rahal, driver of the #15 Mi-Jack / Bobby Rahal Automotive Honda, 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) /

#8 through #5

#8. [Last Race: 11th (+3)] — Tony Kanaan has not been impressive this season, but he moves up in these rankings since he outperformed a bunch of the drivers close to him and the championship standings and in these rankings at Iowa. He is on the 3rd-longest win drought among active full-time IndyCar drivers, and his future in the sport remains uncertain beyond the remaining six races of the 2017 season.. No. 10. Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda. TONY KANAAN

#7. [Last Race: 7th (-)] — Takuma Sato hasn’t had a terrible season by any standards. After all, he did win the Indianapolis 500. However, his inconsistency has started to show. After recording four consecutive top 10 finishes for the first time in his IndyCar career, he has had two poor performances at Road America and Iowa. The statistic that tells the story for him this season is the fact that over 40% of his championship points have come at the Indianapolis 500, and we are 11 races into the season.. No. 26. Andretti Autosport, Honda. TAKUMA SATO

#6. [Last Race: 4th (-2)] — Josef Newgarden moved up in the championship standings to become the fourth Team Penske driver in the top 5 after his 6th place finish at Iowa. However, he drops in these rankings since a number of drivers close to him in both these standings and these rankings did better than him at Iowa, a track he won at last season and finished in 2nd place at in the two seasons prior to last season. In these rankings, Newgarden is probably the lowest legitimate championship contender.. No. 2. Team Penske, Chevrolet. JOSEF NEWGARDEN

#5. [Last Race: 6th (+1)] — Driving for the lone full-time one-car team in IndyCar, Graham Rahal is already at a disadvantage. But he has not let that hinder him over the past five races. His 5th place finish at Iowa was his fourth top 5 finish over the past five races, and it gave him five consecutive top 8 finishes, which include two wins at Belle Isle. Had he not had a terrible start to the season, he could very well be the leader of the championship standings. He is still a legitimate championship contender.. No. 15. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Honda. GRAHAM RAHAL