IndyCar Driver Power Rankings: Dixon challenges Newgarden for top spot at Watkins Glen

Asher Fair

FORT WORTH, TX - JUNE 09: Scott Dixon, driver of the #9 NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, practices for the Verizon IndyCar Series Rainguard Water Sealers 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 9, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)

FORT WORTH, TX – JUNE 09: Marco Andretti, driver of the #27 Andretti Autosport Honda (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)

After the 16th of 17 races this season at Watkins Glen, how do the IndyCar driver power rankings look? Who’s up and who’s down?

The 2017 IndyCar Grand Prix and the Glen featured lots of action with plenty of close racing. The race featured four caution flag periods and included eight official lead changes among six different leaders.

Which drivers saw additions to their cases for high positions in these power rankings at Watkins Glen, 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.

FORT WORTH, TX – JUNE 09: Tony Kanaan, driver of the #10 NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing Honda (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)

#16 through #13

AVONDALE, AZ – APRIL 28: Max Chilton of Great Britain, driver of the #8 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

#12 through #9

AVONDALE, AZ – APRIL 28: Graham Rahal, driver of the #15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

#8 through #5

FORT WORTH, TX – JUNE 09: Scott Dixon, driver of the #9 NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing Honda (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)

#4 through #1

The Verizon IndyCar Series gets back into racing action on Sunday, September 17th with the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at the 11-turn, 2.385-mile natural terrain Sonoma Raceway road course in Sonoma, California.

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That race is the final road course race of the 2017 season as well as the final overall race of the season, so it will determine the final championship standings and power rankings.

Can Scott Dixon hang on to his lead in these rankings, or will Josef Newgarden retake it? Conversely, will Newgarden fend off Dixon in the standings to win his first career championship? Which drivers will have jumps in these rankings? Which drivers will have plummets out of their current solid spots? Stay tuned to find out following the action from Sonoma next Sunday.

Next: IndyCar Series Standings

Do you agree with this week’s edition of the IndyCar driver power rankings? 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.

Asher Fair

Asher has been with FanSided since Feb. 2017, primarily covering motorsport – NASCAR, IndyCar, and F1 – for Beyond the Flag. He became an officially accredited media member in Sep. 2019 and was hired as Junior Editor in Oct. 2020. Following a promotion to Associate Editor in Jul. 2021, he continues to manage the site and also occasionally contributes on FanSided's NFL and NCAA sites.