IndyCar: Alexander Rossi's 2019 championship-clinching scenarios

How can Alexander Rossi secure his first career IndyCar championship in the 2019 season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey?

The IndyCar championship battle is set to come down to the season finale for the 14th consecutive season, as four drivers are still mathematically eligible to win the title heading into the 17th of 17 races on the 2019 schedule, the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey, at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

With 24 drivers set to compete in this 90-lap race around the 11-turn, 2.238-mile (3.602-kilometer) WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca natural terrain road course in Monterey, California and this race being a double points-paying race (not including bonus points), between 12 and 104 points are on the table for each driver.

One of the four drivers who can still win this year’s championship is Andretti Autosport’s Alexander Rossi, the lone non-champion of the four.

Here is how these four drivers stack up against one another in the championship standings.

Rank – Driver, Car, Team, Engine: Points (Behind)
1st – Josef Newgarden, #2, Team Penske, Chevrolet: 593 (0)
2nd – Alexander Rossi, #27, Andretti Autosport, Honda: 552 (-41)
3rd – Simon Pagenaud, #22, Team Penske, Chevrolet: 551 (-42)
4th – Scott Dixon, #9, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda: 508 (-85)

Race victory totals serve as the tiebreaker, and if they are unable to do so, the tiebreakers become second place finishes, third place finishes, fourth place finishes and so on. Newgarden has won four races so far this season while Rossi has won two, Pagenaud has won three and Dixon has won two.

Here is how Rossi can become the 2019 IndyCar champion.

NOTE: Bonus points (aside of the guaranteed +1 for the race winner) are not factored into this list.

Alexander Rossi, No. 27 Andretti Autosport Honda

With a win…

Rossi will have 653 points
Josef Newgarden must finish in sixth place (649 points) or lower

With a 2nd place finish…

Rossi will have 632 points
Newgarden must finish in 11th place (631 points) or lower
Simon Pagenaud must finish in third place (621 points) or lower

With a 3rd place finish…

Rossi will have 622 points
Newgarden must finish in 16th place (621 points) or lower
Pagenaud must finish in fourth place (615 points) or lower

With a 4th place finish…

Rossi will have 616 points
Newgarden must finish in 19th place (615 points) or lower
Pagenaud must finish in fifth place (611 points) or lower

With a 5th place finish…

Rossi will have 612 points
Newgarden must finish in 21st place (611 points) or lower
Pagenaud must finish in sixth place (607 points) or lower

With a 6th place finish…

Rossi will have 608 points
Newgarden must finish in 23rd place (607 points) or lower
Pagenaud must finish in seventh place (603 points) or lower
Scott Dixon must finish in second place (588 points) or lower

With a 7th place finish or lower…

Rossi cannot win the championship

Next. Top 10 IndyCar drivers of all-time. dark

The Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey is set to be broadcast live on NBC from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 22, and it is scheduled to get underway shortly thereafter at 3:00 p.m. ET. Will Alexander Rossi clinch his first IndyCar championship in this race?

IndyCar: Alexander Rossi’s 2019 championship-clinching scenarios

By Asher Fair | Sep 18, 2019