IndyCar: 2018 preseason driver power rankings

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MAY 28: Scott Dixon of New Zealand, driver of the #9 Camping World Honda (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

The beginning of the 2018 IndyCar season is right around the corner. Where do the 20 full-time drivers rank in the preseason power rankings?

The 17-race 2018 IndyCar season is right around the corner, as the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which is set to open up the season, is quickly approaching. Which drivers are set to open up the season on top of the power rankings?

The 2017 season finale at Sonoma featured a championship battle that was extremely tight. Even though it was the 17th race of a 17-race season, seven of the sport’s 18 full-time drivers were still eligible to win the championship heading into the race following a season during which the first seven races were won by seven different drivers for the first time since the 2000 season.

Only four drivers won more than one race in the 2017 season. Josef Newgarden, the 2017 champion, won four races. Will Power won three races, while Graham Rahal and Simon Pagenaud both won two races.

All of those drivers except for Rahal drove Chevrolet-powered cars for Team Penske. Rahal drove a Honda-powered car for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. All four of these drivers are set to return to the same team for the 2018 season.

After three seasons of Chevrolet and Honda developing their own aero kits, universal aero kits are set to be used in 2018. Given the fact that Chevrolet drivers, particularly the Team Penske drivers, had an aerodynamic advantage in 2017 but the Honda drivers had a horsepower advantage, how will the complexion of the 2018 championship be affected as a result of these new universal aero kits?

Without further ado, here are the preseason driver power rankings ahead of the 2018 IndyCar season.