IndyCar: Championship-clinching scenarios at Sonoma

By Asher Fair | Sep 4, 2017

SONOMA, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Simon Pagenaud of France driver of the #22 Team Penske Hewlett Packard Chevrolet Dallara celebrates winning the IndyCar Series championship with his crew and team onwer roger Penske after his victory at the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway on September 18, 2016 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /

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AVONDALE, AZ – APRIL 28: Simmon Pagenaud of France, driver of the #1 Team Penske Chevrolet (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

AVONDALE, AZ – APRIL 28: Simmon Pagenaud of France, driver of the #1 Team Penske Chevrolet (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske, No. 1 Chevrolet

Here are the scenarios by which Simon Pagenaud can claim his second career IndyCar championship.

With a win…

Pagenaud will have 626 points
Josef Newgarden must finish in 4th place (624 points) or lower
Scott Dixon must finish in 4th place (621 points) or lower
Helio Castroneves must finish in 2nd place (618 point) or lower

With a 2nd place finish…

Pagenaud will have 606 points
Newgarden must finish in 9th place (604 points) or lower
Dixon must finish in 8th place (605 points) or lower
Castroneves must finish in 4th place (602 points) or lower

With a 3rd place finish…

Pagenaud will have 596 points
Newgarden must finish in 13th place (594 points) or lower
Dixon must finish in 11th place (595 points) or lower
Castroneves must finish in 6th place (594 points) or lower

With a 4th place finish…

Pagenaud will have 590 points
Newgarden must finish in 16th place (588 points) or lower
Dixon must finish in 14th place (589 points) or lower
Castroneves must finish in 7th place (590 points) or lower — Pagenaud wins tiebreaker based on more 3rd place finishes in the 2017 season (3 to 1)
Will Power must finish in 2nd place (572 points) or lower

With a 5th place finish…

Pagenaud will have 586 points
Newgarden must finish in 18th place (584 points) or lower
Dixon must finish in 16th place (585 points) or lower
Castroneves must finish in 8th place (586 points) or lower — Pagenaud wins tiebreaker based on more 3rd place finishes in the 2017 season (3 to 1)
Power must finish in 2nd place (572 points) or lower

With a 6th place finish…

Pagenaud will have 582 points
Newgarden must finish in 20th place (580 points) or lower
Dixon must finish in 18th place (581 points) or lower
Castroneves must finish in 9th place (582 points) or lower — Pagenaud wins tiebreaker based on more 3rd place finishes in the 2017 season (3 to 1)
Power must finish in 2nd place (572 points) or lower

With a 7th place finish…

Pagenaud will have 578 points
Newgarden must finish in 22nd place (576 points)
Dixon must finish in 20th place (577 points) or lower
Castroneves must finish in 10th place (578 points) or lower — Pagenaud wins tiebreaker based on more 3rd place finishes in the 2017 season (3 to 1)
Power must finish in 2nd place (572 points) or lower

With an 8th place finish…

Pagenaud will have 574 points
Newgarden must not race (560 points)
Dixon must finish in 22nd place (573 points)
Castroneves must finish in 12th place (574 points) or lower — Pagenaud wins tiebreaker based on more 3rd place finishes in the 2017 season (3 to 1)
Power must finish in 2nd place (572 points) or lower
Alexander Rossi must finish in 2nd place (556 points) or lower