IndyCar: Five surprises from the 2017 season

By Mike Knapp | Dec 30, 2017

SONOMA, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Simon Pagenaud of France driver of the #1 DXC Technology Chevrolet crosses the finish line in first place to win 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: Simon Pagenaud of France driver of the #1 DXC Technology Chevrolet (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

The 2017 IndyCar season was one for the ages, on and off the track. What were some of the year’s biggest surprises?

There is no doubt that the 2017 IndyCar season was one that saw the series take huge steps forward in terms of competition and popularity. On the track, the series crowned a new champion in American Josef Newgarden. At 26 years of age, Newgarden was one of four drivers aged 30 and under to win a race as the series showed a changing of the guard.

Off the track, IndyCar saw their teams bring in several new sponsors and saw another rise in overall television ratings. The series also saw some growth, as Carlin Motorsport, Juncos Racing, Harding Racing and Michael Shank Racing were among teams that announced full or part-time plans for 2018.

With the positive mojo the series has experienced the last few years, most of those things were kind of expected. That doesn’t mean that there weren’t a few surprises sprinkled into the mix.

Here are five things that kind of threw us for a loop in 2017.