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: 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

[Last Race: 7th (-1)] — After a string of four consecutive top 10 finishes, something that he had never done before in his IndyCar career, including his win at the Indianapolis 500, Takuma Sato has been awful with three straight finishes outside of the top 15. Here we are 12 races into the season, and his Indianapolis 500 win continues to pad his spot in the standings, as the amount of championship points he earned from it make up more than 39% of his total points.. No. 26. Andretti Autosport, Honda. TAKUMA SATO. #8

#7. [Last Race: 3rd (-4)] — Despite four straight finishes in the top 5 heading into Toronto, Will Power had been one of the most inconsistent drivers in the series. Following Toronto, that has not changed. He has six top 5 finishes this season and six finishes of 13th place or lower. Toronto was one of the latter after he was involved in a first-lap crash with Scott Dixon. He looked like his 2013 self when he slammed into Dixon following the accident. I’ll bet Dixon was having Sonoma and Baltimore flashbacks.. No. 12. Team Penske, Chevrolet. WILL POWER

ALEXANDER ROSSI. #6. [Last Race: 9th (+3)] — Alexander Rossi finally broke through for his first career finish higher than 5th place outside of his Indianapolis 500 victory last season. He has been one of the fastest cars on street courses all season long, but it took until the Toronto race for him to finally break through. He finished in 2nd place, which is tied for Andretti Autosport’s highest finish not including Indianapolis 500 results since the Pocono race in 2015. Now Rossi just needs to be more consistent.. No. 98. Andretti Herta Autosport, Honda

[Last Race: 5th (-)] — Graham Rahal’s season started in disastrous form. Through four races, he had not finished higher than 10th place. Now, he has not finished below 9th place since the Indianapolis 500, which will be over two months ago when IndyCar is back in action at Mid-Ohio. While his 9th place finish at Toronto was his worst over the course of the past six races, it was his sixth straight top 9 finish, including four top 5 finishes and his two wins at Belle Isle. He is a championship contender than should not be slept on.. No. 15. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Honda. GRAHAM RAHAL. #5