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IndyCar: Championship-clinching scenarios at Sonoma

By Asher Fair

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)
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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FORT WORTH, TX – JUNE 09: Alexander Rossi, driver of the #98 Andretti Autosport/Curb Honda (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TX – JUNE 09: Alexander Rossi, driver of the #98 Andretti Autosport/Curb Honda (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /

Alexander Rossi, Andretti Herta Autosport, No. 98 Honda

Here are the scenarios by which Alexander Rossi can claim his first career IndyCar championship.

With a win…

  • Rossi will have 576 points
  • Josef Newgarden must not race (560 points)
  • Scott Dixon must finish in 21st place (575 points) or lower
  • Helio Castroneves must finish in 11th place (576 points) or lower — Rossi wins tiebreaker based on more wins in the 2017 season (2 to 1)
  • Simon Pagenaud must finish in 8th place (574 points) or lower
  • Will Power must finish in 2nd place (572 points) or lower

With a finish from 2nd place through 22nd place…

  • Rossi has no possible championship-clinching scenarios (556 points)

Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, No. 15 Honda

Here are the scenarios by which Graham Rahal can claim his first career IndyCar championship.

With a win…

Rahal will have 566 points

Josef Newgarden must not race (560 points)

More from IndyCar

Scott Dixon must not race (557 points)

  • Helio Castroneves must finish in 16th place (566 points) or lower — Rahal wins tiebreaker based on more wins in the 2017 season (2 to 1)
  • Simon Pagenaud must finish in 10th place (566 points) or lower — Rahal wins tiebreaker based on more wins in the 2017 season (2 to 1)

    • Will Power must finish in 3rd place (562 points) or lower

    Alexander Rossi must finish in 2nd place (556 points) or lower

    With a finish from 2nd place through 22nd place…

    • Rahal has no possible championship-clinching scenarios (546 points)

    Next: IndyCar driver power rankings

    Which driver do you think will win this year’s IndyCar championship? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to follow along with Beyond the Flag for the latest news, opinions and analysis stemming from a number of different motorsports series. You don’t want to miss any of it. Also be sure to follow Beyond the Flag on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.