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IndyCar Power Rankings: Josef Newgarden reaffirms, Alexander Rossi closes

By Asher Fair

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JUNE 08: Josef Newgarden of the United States, driver of the #2 Fitzgerald USA Team Penske Chevrolet, battles Alexander Rossi of the United States, driver of the #27 GESS/Capstone Honda, during the NTT IndyCar Series DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 08, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JUNE 08: Josef Newgarden of the United States, driver of the #2 Fitzgerald USA Team Penske Chevrolet, battles Alexander Rossi of the United States, driver of the #27 GESS/Capstone Honda, during the NTT IndyCar Series DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 08, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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SONOMA, CA – SEPTEMBER 14: Will Power, driver of the #12 Team Penske Chevrolet (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images)
SONOMA, CA – SEPTEMBER 14: Will Power, driver of the #12 Team Penske Chevrolet (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images) /

Will Power earned his second victory in the last three races by winning the Grand Prix of Portland. How did this race affect the IndyCar Driver Power Rankings?

After starting the 2019 IndyCar season winless in the first 13 races, Team Penske’s Will Power has now been to victory lane twice. He secured his second victory of the season by winning the season’s penultimate race at Portland International Raceway, the Grand Prix of Portland.

How did Power’s victory in this 105-lap race around the 12-turn, 1.967-mile (3.166-kilometer) Portland International Raceway natural terrain road course in Portland, Oregon affect the IndyCar Driver Power Rankings?

These IndyCar Driver Power Rankings were calculated using a formula, which you can see here. But before they are revealed, take a look below at some of the highlights of this edition of these rankings.

Alternatively, click here to get started.

IndyCar Driver Power Rankings Analysis

After Team Penske’s Simon Pagenaud shot to the top of these rankings following his fifth place finish and teammate Josef Newgarden’s seventh place finish in the race at World Wide Technology Raceway, the two drivers swapped positions in the Grand Prix of Portland even after both were involved in a first-lap wreck.

As a result, they also swapped positions in these rankings, as the points leader has retaken the top spot heading into the season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Newgarden’s lead in the championship standings to second place increased after this race, but only because the driver who now sits in second didn’t sit in second heading into the race. That driver, Andretti Autosport’s Alexander Rossi, actually closed his gap to Newgarden with his third place finish in this race.

Rossi also moved up by one position in these rankings, as Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon, who is technically still a championship contender, saw what appeared to be a sure victory turn into a 16th place finish due to a mechanical issue. Mechanical issues have now robbed him of solid results in two consecutive races. Are his title hopes gone for the year?

Now let’s get started with the rankings.