Beyond the Flag
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IndyCar: Driver Power Rankings After Pocono

By Asher Fair

FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 09: Marco Andretti, driver of the #27 Andretti Autosport Honda, leads Ryan Hunter-Reay, driver of the #28 DHL Andretti Autosport Honda, Simon Pagenaud, driver of the #1 DXC Technology Team Penske Chevrolet, and Josef Newgarden, driver of the #2 hum by Verizon Team Penske 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 Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 09: Marco Andretti, driver of the #27 Andretti Autosport Honda, leads Ryan Hunter-Reay, driver of the #28 DHL Andretti Autosport Honda, Simon Pagenaud, driver of the #1 DXC Technology Team Penske Chevrolet, and Josef Newgarden, driver of the #2 hum by Verizon Team Penske 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 Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MAY 28: Alexander Rossi, driver of the #98 NAPA Auto Parts Honda, leads a group of cars during the 101st Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 28, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MAY 28: Alexander Rossi, driver of the #98 NAPA Auto Parts Honda, leads a group of cars during the 101st Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 28, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

#8 through #5

[Last Race: 7th (-1)] — Takuma Sato’s post-Indianapolis 500 struggles continued at Pocono, where he took pole but was swallowed up quickly. He never even led one lap in the race that featured 42 lead changes among nearly half the field before he finished in 13th place. His chances at winning his first career championship this season appear to be gone.. No. 26. Andretti Autosport, Honda. TAKUMA SATO. #8

#7. [Last Race: 6th (-1)] — Graham Rahal still has not finished outside the top 9 in nearly three months since the Indianapolis 500, but he is going to need to do more if he wants to stay in the hunt to win his first career championship. He looked like he could have easily won at Pocono, but issues with his car hindered him late in the race.. No. 15. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Honda. GRAHAM RAHAL

#6. [Last Race: 8th (+2)} — Alexander Rossi is becoming as good of a driver as anyone on all kinds of tracks. In the past three races, with one on a street course, one on a road course and one on a superspeedway oval, he has not finished outside the top 6. Thanks to his 3rd place finish at Pocono, he has finished on the podium twice in those three races.. No. 98. Andretti Herta Autosport, Honda. ALEXANDER ROSSI

No. 3. Team Penske, Chevrolet. HELIO CASTRONEVES. #5. [Last Race: 3rd (-2)] — Helio Castroneves finished in 7th place at Pocono for his 13th top 9 finish of the season. However, since his win at Iowa, he has not finished higher than 7th in any of the races since. If he wants to win his first career championship, he is going to need to do more than rack up top 9 finishes.