IndyCar: Scott Dixon’s 2019 road/street championship-clinching scenarios

SONOMA, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Scott Dixon of New Zealand driver of the #9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda during the Verizon IndyCar Series Sonoma Grand Prix at Sonoma Raceway on September 16, 2018 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
SONOMA, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Scott Dixon of New Zealand driver of the #9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda during the Verizon IndyCar Series Sonoma Grand Prix at Sonoma Raceway on September 16, 2018 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /
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SONOMA, CA – SEPTEMBER 15: Scott Dixon of New Zealand driver of the #9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
SONOMA, CA – SEPTEMBER 15: Scott Dixon of New Zealand driver of the #9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /

How can Scott Dixon further pad his IndyCar resume by adding another road and street course championship in this Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca?

The Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is set to bring the 17-race 2019 IndyCar season to a close this Sunday, September 22. But in addition to resulting in the crowning of the overall champion, it is also set to result in the crowning of the road and street course champion.

While the Mario Andretti Road Course Trophy is no longer awarded, to the road and street course champion, the 2019 champion is still set to be determined following 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. There are still six drivers who that champion could be.

This is the case because of the fact that, while bonus points are not doubled, this race is a double points-paying race. A total of 24 drivers are slated to compete in this race, so between 12 and 104 points will be on the table for each of them.

Among the six drivers who still have a chance to win this year’s road and street course championship is Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon, who is set to enter the season finale with an advantage over the other five.

Here is how these six drivers stack up against one another in the road and street course championship standings.

Rank – Driver, Car, Team, Engine: Points (Behind)
1st – Scott Dixon, #9, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda: 375 (0)
2nd – Alexander Rossi, #27, Andretti Autosport, Honda: 372 (-3)
3rd – Josef Newgarden, #2, Team Penske, Chevrolet: 363 (-12)
4th – Simon Pagenaud, #22, Team Penske, Chevrolet: 309 (-66)
5th – Will Power, #12, Team Penske, Chevrolet: 306 (-69)
6th – Felix Rosenqvist, #10, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda: 292 (-83)

Road and street course race victory totals serve as the tiebreaker, and Dixon, Rossi and Newgarden have each won two road or street course races so far this season while Pagenaud and Power have each won one and Rosenqvist hasn’t won any.

Here is how Dixon can become the 2019 IndyCar road and street course champion.

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