IndyCar: Santino Ferrucci's Rookie of the Year-clinching scenarios

How can Santino Ferrucci clinch the 2019 IndyCar Rookie of the Year in the season finale, the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey, at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca?

The Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is the lone remaining race on the 2019 IndyCar schedule.

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.

As a result, three of the four full-time rookies are set to enter this race with a chance to be crowned 2019 Rookie of the Year. Among these three rookies is Dale Coyne Racing’s Santino Ferrucci.

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 Ferrucci 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.

Santino Ferrucci, No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda

With a win…

Ferrucci will have 440 points
Felix Rosenqvist must finish in third place (435 points) or lower

With a 2nd place finish…

Ferrucci will have 419 points
Rosenqvist must finish in seventh place (417 points) or lower

With a 3rd place finish…

Ferrucci will have 409 points
Rosenqvist must finish in 10th place (405 points) or lower
Colton Herta must finish in second place (396 points) or lower

With a 4th place finish…

Ferrucci will have 403 points
Rosenqvist must finish in 12th place (401 points) or lower
Herta must finish in second place (396 points) or lower

With a 5th place finish…

Ferrucci will have 399 points
Rosenqvist must finish in 14th place (397 points) or lower
Herta must finish in second place (396 points) or lower

With a 6th place finish…

Ferrucci will have 395 points
Rosenqvist must finish in 16th place (393 points) or lower
Herta must finish in third place (386 points) or lower

With a 7th place finish…

Ferrucci will have 391 points
Rosenqvist must finish in 18th place (389 points) or lower
Herta must finish in third place (386 points) or lower

With an 8th place finish…

Ferrucci will have 387 points
Rosenqvist must finish in 20th place (385 points) or lower
Herta must finish in third place (386 points) or lower

With a 9th place finish…

Ferrucci will have 383 points
Rosenqvist must finish in 22nd place (381 points) or lower
Herta must finish in fourth place (380 points) or lower

With a 10th place finish…

Ferrucci will have 379 points
Rosenqvist must finish in 24th place (377 points) or lower
Herta must finish in fifth place (376 points) or lower

With an 11th place finish or lower…

Ferrucci cannot win the championship

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

Will Santino Ferrucci be crowned 2019 IndyCar Rookie of the Year? The Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 22, and it is set to be broadcast live on NBC from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.

IndyCar: Santino Ferrucci’s Rookie of the Year-clinching scenarios

By Asher Fair | Sep 18, 2019