Beyond the Flag
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IndyCar: Way-too-early top 10 drivers for 2020

By Asher Fair

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JUNE 08: Takuma Sato of Japan, driver of the #30 ABeam Consulting Honda, races Scott Dixon of New Zealand, driver of the #9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, at the start of the NTT IndyCar Series DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 08, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JUNE 08: Takuma Sato of Japan, driver of the #30 ABeam Consulting Honda, races Scott Dixon of New Zealand, driver of the #9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, at the start of the NTT IndyCar Series DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 08, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 19: Felix Rosenqvist #10 of Sweden and NTT DATA Chip Ganassi Racing Honda (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 19: Felix Rosenqvist #10 of Sweden and NTT DATA Chip Ganassi Racing Honda (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

No. 6 – Felix Rosenqvist

Felix Rosenqvist, who drove the #10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda in his rookie season this past year, is believed to be slated to return to Chip Ganassi Racing in 2020. The team have the option to extend his contract, and they have indicated on several occasions that they plan to do so.

Rosenqvist earned Rookie of the Year honors in the 2019 season with his sixth place finish in the championship standings. His best finishes of the year were his second place finishes in the races at the road courses of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Portland International Raceway. In the unofficial road and street course standings, he finished in sixth as well.

He was in contention to win multiple races this season, from his debut on the streets of St. Petersburg until the season ended, but unfortunately he couldn’t get the job done. When he does, however, look out, as it may simply be a case of needing to “get the monkey off his back”.

Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing have combined to win each of the last seven and 11 of the last 12 championships. They are slated to have five drivers next season, and Rosenqvist is one of those five drivers. Do the math; the 27-year-old Swede should have an overall decent shot at the title in his sophomore season.

After his impressive rookie season, which was one of the best overall rookie seasons since Juan Pablo Montoya’s in 1999, don’t be surprised to see him in victory lane, perhaps even on a regular basis, in 2020, and don’t be surprised is he is a far more legitimate championship contender throughout the year.