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IndyCar: Scott Dixon’s 2019 championship-clinching scenarios

By Asher Fair

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MAY 24: Scott Dixon of New Zealand, driver of the #9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MAY 24: Scott Dixon of New Zealand, driver of the #9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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How can Scott Dixon clinch the 2019 IndyCar championship in the season finale, the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey, at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca?

Only the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca remains on the 17-race 2019 IndyCar schedule. For the 14th consecutive season, the championship battle will come down to the season finale.

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, and 24 drivers are set to compete in it.

Bonus points, however, are not doubled, so a maximum of four of those (one for taking the pole position, one for leading at least one lap and two for leading the most laps) are still on the table for each driver.

As a result, there are between 12 and 104 points on the table for each driver in this race. Because of this, there are four drivers who remain mathematically eligible to win this year’s championship. One of these drivers is five-time champion Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing.

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)

Newgarden has won four races so far this season. Rossi has won two, Pagenaud has won three and Dixon has won two. Race victory totals serve as the tiebreaker. Further tiebreakers are determined by top finishes.

Here is how Dixon can become the 2019 IndyCar champion.

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

Scott Dixon, No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda

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With a win…

  • Dixon will have 609 points
  • Josef Newgarden must finish in 23rd place (607 points) or lower
  • Alexander Rossi must finish in sixth place (608 points) or lower
  • Simon Pagenaud must finish in sixth place (607 points) or lower

With a 2nd place finish or lower…

  • Dixon cannot win the championship

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

Will Scott Dixon be crowned 2019 IndyCar champion when the season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca comes to an end to become the sport’s second ever six-time champion? Tune in to the NBC at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 22 for the live broadcast of the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey, which is set to begin shortly thereafter at 3:00 p.m. ET.