Beyond the Flag
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IndyCar: Post-Season Driver Grades

By Asher Fair

SONOMA, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Drivers race on the first lap of the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway on September 17, 2017 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SONOMA, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Drivers race on the first lap of the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway on September 17, 2017 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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SONOMA, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Scott Dixon of New Zealand driver of the #9 NTT Data Honda (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SONOMA, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Scott Dixon of New Zealand driver of the #9 NTT Data Honda (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda

D-. Despite the fact that he had not won a race since the 2013 season, Charlie Kimball had been improving over the years. That improvement did not carry over to this season for him, which lead to an extremely disappointing year. Kimball failed to finish a single race in the top 5 and he finished in the top 10 just five times despite the fact that he was driving for a huge four-car top-tier Chip Ganassi Racing team that had won six of the last nine championship prior to the 2017 season.. No. 83. Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda. CHARLIE KIMBALL

No. 10. Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda. TONY KANAAN. C-. In the three superspeedway races this season, Tony Kanaan finished no lower than 5th place. However, in the 14 other races, he did not finish in the top 5 at all; in fact, he only finished in the top 10 four other times. His only finish higher than 5th place this year came at Texas when he finished in 2nd after IndyCar literally made up the rules as they went, which helped him get back on the lead lap after going two laps down due to a penalty. While he still ended up finishing in 10th place in the championship standings, he is clearly past his prime.

MAX CHILTON. C. Max Chilton improved a lot this season from his rookie campaign. He finished in the top 9 six times this year as opposed to just once last year, and he finished in 11th place in the championship standings this year as opposed to 19th last year. He led the most laps at this year’s Indianapolis 500 by far en route to a career-high 4th place finish, which shattered his former career-high finish of 7th. Tension between him and Chip Ganassi Racing late in the season, however, prevent his grade from being better.. No. 8. Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda

No. 9. Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda. SCOTT DIXON. A-. Scott Dixon didn’t actually finish a race lower than 10th place this season, but he still wasn’t good enough to get an “A”. He was unable to win his fifth career championship, as he ultimately ended up finishing in 3rd place in the final standings, and he won only one race all season long, which is his lowest total in a single season since he won just one race back in the 2005 season.