Beyond the Flag
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IndyCar: Way-too-early 2019 Driver Power Rankings

By Asher Fair

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 27: Will Power, driver of the #12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 27: Will Power, driver of the #12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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AVONDALE, AZ – APRIL 06: Charlie Kimball, driver of the #23 Carlin Chevrolet IndyCar (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
AVONDALE, AZ – APRIL 06: Charlie Kimball, driver of the #23 Carlin Chevrolet IndyCar (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

#21 through #19

A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet. MATHEUS LEIST. #21. . No. 4

Matheus Leist can be considered a dark horse breakout candidate for the 2019 season. He showed speed from time to time throughout the 2018 season, which was his rookie season, most notably by qualifying in third place for the season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, but he failed to finish a single race in the top 11. Despite the fact that his best finish of 12th place was the worst best finish among the sport’s full-time drivers, he still finished ahead of 19th (last) in the championship standings by finishing in 18th, and he didn’t finish too far behind veteran teammate Tony Kanaan, who finished in 16th.

#20. . No. 19. Dale Coyne Racing, Honda. SANTINO FERRUCCI

Santino Ferrucci made his first four IndyCar starts in the 2018 season driving for Dale Coyne Racing before he was named the team’s second full-time driver for the 2019 season this past November. He showed more speed than many people expected in his limited driving for the team in 2018, but he was only able to finish higher than 20th place once with his 11th place finish in the season finale at Sonoma Raceway. Having four-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais as a full-time teammate should play to his advantage in his official rookie season in 2019.

#19. . No. 23. Carlin, Chevrolet. CHARLIE KIMBALL

Charlie Kimball made the most of the 2018 season by recording six top 10 finishes and finishing in 17th place in the championship standings despite the fact that Carlin struggled as a whole in what was their first season competing in IndyCar. Kimball has not yet been confirmed as one of the team’s drivers for the 2019 season, but he appears to be the most likely candidate to end up as Max Chilton’s teammate once again.