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IndyCar: Colton Herta’s Rookie of the Year-clinching scenarios

By Asher Fair

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JUNE 06: Colton Herta of the United States, driver of the #88 GESS Capstone Honda, drives during practice for the NTT IndyCar Series DXC - Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 06, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JUNE 06: Colton Herta of the United States, driver of the #88 GESS Capstone Honda, drives during practice for the NTT IndyCar Series DXC - Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 06, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /
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How can Colton Herta clinch 2019 IndyCar Rookie of the Year in the season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey?

The 17-race 2019 IndyCar season is scheduled to come to an end in this Sunday afternoon’s Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

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 is a double points-paying race, although bonus points, including one for taking the pole position, one for leading at least one lap and two for leading the most laps, are not doubled.

With 24 drivers set to compete in this race, between 12 and 104 points on the table for each driver, leaving three of the four full-time rookies still mathematically eligible to win this year’s Rookie of the Year honors.

Among these three rookies is Harding Steinbrenner Racing’s Colton Herta.

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

Rank – Driver, Car, Team, Engine: Points (Behind)
8th – Felix Rosenqvist, #10, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda: 365 (-)
10th – Santino Ferrucci, #19, Dale Coyne Racing, Honda: 339 (-26)
13th – Colton Herta, #88, Harding Steinbrenner Racing, Honda: 316 (-49)

Herta is the only one of these drivers who has won a race this season, and race victory totals  serve as the tiebreaker.  Further tiebreakers are determined by top finishes.

Here is how each of Herta can become the 2019 Rookie of the Year.

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

Colton Herta, No. 88 Harding Steinbrenner Racing Honda

With a win…

  • Herta will have 417 points
  • Felix Rosenqvist must finish in seventh place (417 points) or lower
  • Santino Ferrucci must finish in third place (409 points) or lower

With a 2nd place finish…

  • Herta will have 396 points
  • Rosenqvist must finish in 15th place (395 points) or lower
  • Ferrucci must finish in sixth place (395 points) or lower

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With a 3rd place finish…

  • Herta will have 386 points
  • Rosenqvist must finish in 20th place (385 points) or lower
  • Ferrucci must finish in ninth place (383 points) or lower

With a 4th place finish…

  • Herta will have 380 points
  • Rosenqvist must finish in 23rd place (379 points) or lower
  • Ferrucci must finish in 10th place (379 points) or lower

With a 5th place finish or lower…

  • Herta cannot win Rookie of the Year

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Will Colton Herta be crowned 2019 IndyCar Rookie of the Year? Tune in to NBC at 2:30 p.m. ET for the live broadcast of the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on Sunday, September 22. The race is scheduled to get underway shortly thereafter at 3:00 p.m. ET.