Beyond the Flag
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IndyCar: Early 2020 power rankings; a new champion?

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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AUSTIN, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 12: Alexander Rossi, driver of the #27 NAPA Auto Parts / AutoNation Honda (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 12: Alexander Rossi, driver of the #27 NAPA Auto Parts / AutoNation Honda (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /

#2 and #1

#2. . No. 1. Team Penske, Chevrolet. JOSEF NEWGARDEN

There’s no doubt that Josef Newgarden is the favorite to defend his championship in 2020 after leading the championship standings after all but just one race in 2019. In fact, because of the bonus point he earned in qualifying for the first race on the streets of Belle Isle, he technically never entered a race lower than first place in the standings in 2019. But the IndyCar field is as competitive as it has ever been, and the series has not seen a repeat champion since Dario Franchitti won three titles in a row from 2009 to 2011. Newgarden should still be a regular frontrunner in 2020; there’s no doubt about that. But even in 2018 as the reigning champion, he won a series-high three races and still only finished in fifth place in the standings. It will be a big ask for him to win what would be his third title in four years.

ALEXANDER ROSSI. #1. . No. 27. Andretti Autosport, Honda

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After leading laps in seven of the first 10 races of the 2019 season, including an overwhelming majority of the laps in the two races he won, Alexander Rossi led a grand total of seven laps through the season’s final season races. Yet over the course of the final five events, he was only outscored by four points by champion Josef Newgarden.

If he and Andretti Autosport can make the slightest of improvements in 2020, even at just a few tracks, Rossi can finally cap off a successful year with a championship. He is the only driver to finish in the top three in the championship standings in each of the last two seasons, and the only step he hasn’t been on is the top one.

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

The 2020 IndyCar season is scheduled to get underway on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Sunday, March 15. NBC Sports Network is set to broadcast this race live beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET.