Beyond the Flag
Fansided

IndyCar: Driver Power Rankings After Gateway

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MAY 28: Max Chilton of England, driver of the #8 Gallagher Honda (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MAY 28: Max Chilton of England, driver of the #8 Gallagher Honda (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

After the 15th of 17 races this season, how do the IndyCar driver power rankings look? Who is trending upwards after the Gateway race, and who is falling?

The 2017 Bommarito Automotive Group 500 featured non-stop action with plenty of close racing. The race featured five caution flag periods and included 11 official lead changes among six different leaders.

Which drivers saw additions to their cases for high positions in these power rankings at Gateway, and which drivers had rough days that prevented them from adding to their cases at making jumps to higher spots?

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.

#19 through #17

JR HILDEBRAND. #19. [Last Race: 14th (-5)] — JR Hildebrand is a solid oval driver, as evidenced by the fact that he finished on the podium in the two oval races during which he was not penalized or did not crash. However, his inconsistency across the board has cost him dearly this season. Aside of those two podium finishes, he hasn’t finished in the top 10 at all this season.. No. 21. Ed Carpenter Racing, Honda

#18. [Last Race: 13th (-5)] — Tensions are high within the Chip Ganassi Racing organization, and Max Chilton has been a huge part of it. He has gone extremely cold as of late, with a top finish of just 15th place in the last three races. At Pocono, he, like Tony Kanaan at Gateway, was parked in the middle of the race by the team, and he ended up wrecking at Gateway.. No. 8. Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda. MAX CHILTON

No. 19. Dale Coyne Racing, Honda. ED JONES. #17. [Last Race: 15th (-2)] — Sebastien Bourdais’ return should definitely play to Ed Jones’ advantage. At Gateway with Bourdais back, Jones recorded his best finish in the last five races. However, the fact that said finish was only a 13th place effort shows just how much Jones has been struggling as of late.