Beyond the Flag
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IndyCar: Driver Power Rankings After Toronto

By Asher Fair

AVONDALE, AZ - APRIL 28: Josef Newgarden, driver of the #2 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: Josef Newgarden, driver of the #2 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: James Hinchcliffe, driver of the #5 Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda, and Tony Kanaan, driver of the #10 NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, lead a pack of cars 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: James Hinchcliffe, driver of the #5 Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda, and Tony Kanaan, driver of the #10 NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, lead a pack of cars 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

RYAN HUNTER-REAY. #12. [Last Race: 11th (-1)] — Ryan Hunter-Reay has finished in the top 6 in two consecutive races now, and he is one of only two drivers who have done so. His 6th place finish at Toronto shows that he is building momentum even despite the fact that it was only his fourth finish higher than 10th place so far this season. However, he does fall one spot in these rankings simply due to the fact that the middle of these rankings is so tight and the championship standings as well as the Toronto results favor other drivers close to him.. No. 28. Andretti Autosport, Honda

#11. [Last Race: 15th (+4)] — It looks like Marco Andretti may have regained some of the confidence that he has lacked since the start of last season. Albeit done off strategy, perhaps leading laps at Iowa was the confidence booster he needed moving forward. Finishing in 6th place despite almost two-thirds of the cars wrecking at Texas may have helped as well. Regardless of if those things have helped or not, he did finish in 4th place at Toronto, which was his top finish since his most recent podium finish at Fontana in 2015.. No. 27. Andretti Autosport, Honda. MARCO ANDRETTI

[Last Race: 13th (+3)] — Max Chilton’s 7th place finish was good for his third top 9 finish over the course of the past four races as well as his fifth over the course of the past eight. He has tied or bettered his best finish of 7th place last season, his only top 9 finish last season, three times now in 2017. He is still not a factor up front every race, but his improvement in the series coupled with the fact that he drives for a top-tier team shows that he may become a factor up front on a consistent basis very soon.. No. 8. Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda. MAX CHILTON. #10

[Last Race: 12th (+3)] — James Hinchcliffe finally had another solid race, and he did it in front of his home crowd. After a span of eight races with just one finish higher than 10th place, Hinchcliffe broke through for his third podium finish of the season with a 3rd place effort at his home race track. He jumps in these rankings because of it, and if he can string together a few consistent results and not fall into another slump, he may move even higher.. No. 5. Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, Honda. JAMES HINCHCLIFFE. #9