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IndyCar: 2018 preseason driver power rankings

By Asher Fair

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 28: Scott Dixon of New Zealand, driver of the #9 Camping World Honda, leads the field during during the 101st Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 28, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 28: Scott Dixon of New Zealand, driver of the #9 Camping World Honda, leads the field during during the 101st Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 28, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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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)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MAY 28: Scott Dixon of New Zealand, driver of the #9 Camping World Honda (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

Conclusion

Josef Newgarden rose to the top of the IndyCar world in his sixth career season and his first driving for Team Penske, which has been the sport’s top team for several years, as they have now won three of the last four championships. Newgarden did so by more than doubling his career win total en route to securing his first career championship.

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Prior to the 2017 season, Newgarden had won three races in his career. He proceeded to win four races in the 2017 season to bring his career win total all the way up to seven.

Only four-time champions Sebastien Bourdais and Scott Dixon have won multiple IndyCar titles among active drivers despite the fact that there are five other former champions who are set to be full-time drivers in the 2018 season. But there is no reason why Newgarden cannot join Bourdais and Dixon with multiple championships, and he may very well do so as early as the 2018 season.

As usual, there will likely be at least a half-dozen other potential championship contenders aside Newgarden of, especially given the fact that the new universal aero kits are set to be used. That half-dozen doesn’t even include the dark horse contenders, which they are almost always several of. This speaks to just how competitive IndyCar, which is the most competitive racing series in the world, is.

Next: Top 10 IndyCar drivers of all-time

With the season opener of the 2018 IndyCar season, the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which is set for Sunday, March 11th, right around the corner, which drivers do you think deserve to be ranked higher than which others in these power rankings? Do you agree with these rankings? We’ll find out just how accurate they are throughout the season.