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IndyCar: Driver Power Rankings After Mid-Ohio

By Asher Fair

FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 09: Josef Newgarden, driver of the #2 hum by Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, and Alexander Rossi, driver of the #98 Andretti Autosport/Curb Honda, practice for the Verizon IndyCar Series Rainguard Water Sealers 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 9, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 09: Josef Newgarden, driver of the #2 hum by Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, and Alexander Rossi, driver of the #98 Andretti Autosport/Curb Honda, practice for the Verizon IndyCar Series Rainguard Water Sealers 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 9, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /
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AVONDALE, AZ – APRIL 28: Carlos Munoz of Colombia, driver of the #14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises 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: Carlos Munoz of Colombia, driver of the #14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises 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) /

After the 13th of 17 races this season, how do the Verizon IndyCar Series driver power rankings look? Who is trending upwards after the Mid-Ohio 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.

#20 through #17

ESTEBAN GUTIERREZ. #20. [Last Race: 19th (-1)] — It’s back to the bottom for Esteban Gutierrez after Mikhail Aleshin’s return, as he has yet to finish higher than 13th place through six races in a car that Sebastien Bourdais had in a position to potentially be the top Honda if not the championship-winning car. The most he can do at this point is try to get as much experience and learn as many things as he can behind the wheel so that he’ll be ahead of the game in 2018 if he does become a full-time driver.. No. 18. Dale Coyne Racing, Honda

#19. [Last Race: 18th (-1)] — Conor Daly actually had a pretty decent weekend at Mid-Ohio, finishing in 10th place for his second top 10 finish of the season and second over the course of the past five races. The speed for AJ Foyt Enterprises has just not been there this season, so Daly deserves some credit for that accomplishment. However, he can’t move up in these rankings simply because of one top 10 finish, especially since most of his races have resulted in 16th place finishes or worse this season.. No. 4. AJ Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet. CONOR DALY

CHARLIE KIMBALL. #18. [Last Race: 17th (-1)] — Charlie Kimball looked poised for a breakout year in 2017 after steadily improving over the course of his career. This season, however, has turned out to be atrocious for him. He is higher than just one full-time driver in the standings despite the fact that he is driving for a top-tier team in Chip Ganassi Racing. He needs to get it together if he wants his career with his current team to continue past the conclusion of this season.. No. 83. Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda

#17. [Last Race: 16th (-1)] — Carlos Munoz is a better driver than a number of drivers ranked ahead of him in these rankings. However, his season has been disastrous thanks to the fact that AJ Foyt Enterprises simply does not have competitive cars. Munoz has just one finish higher than 10th place so far this season and hasn’t even finished in the top 10 in any of the past seven races.. No. 14. AJ Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet. CARLOS MUNOZ