IndyCar: If iRacing kept standings, here's what they'd look like

If standings were being kept for the IndyCar iRacing Challenge using IndyCar’s scoring system, here is what they would look like.

The coronavirus pandemic prevented the 2020 IndyCar season from getting started as planned on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida back on Sunday, March 15, and now the season isn’t scheduled to get underway until at least late May.

IndyCar postponements and cancellations: TRACKER

As of now, the doubleheader at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park is scheduled to open up the season on Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, but this remains subject to change.

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When will real racing resume? TRACKER

In response to this pandemic pushing off the start of the season and leading to a schedule overhaul, IndyCar introduced the IndyCar iRacing Challenge.

As of now, this virtual racing series is set to run through the beginning of May. It opened up last Saturday at virtual Watkins Glen International, which was voted as the opening venue by fans on IndyCar’s social media accounts in bracket-style polling. The series continued this past Saturday at Barber Motorsports Park, which was initially scheduled to host a real race this afternoon before this pandemic wreaked havoc on the schedule.

Of the 29 drivers who have competed in at least one of these two races, 25 have competed in both events while the other four have competed in only one.

Unlike in real life, points are not officially awarded for results in these races. And of course, they aren’t awarded for pole positions, laps led or most laps led, either. But what if they were?

Let’s take a look at what the championship standings would look like following the virtual race at Barber Motorsports Park if IndyCar’s scoring system were being used for the IndyCar iRacing Challenge.

Position – Driver: Points (Behind)
1st – Scott McLaughlin: 83 (0)
2nd – Will Power: 76 (-7)
3rd – Felix Rosenqvist: 69 (-14)
4th – Sage Karam: 63 (-20)
5th – Simon Pagenaud: 58 (-25)
6th – Josef Newgarden: 48 (-35)
7th – Oliver Askew: 45 (-38)
7th – Scott Speed: 45 (-38)
9th – Santino Ferrucci: 44 (-39)
10th – Alex Palou: 42 (-41)
11th – Dalton Kellett: 38 (-45)
12th – Colton Herta: 34 (-49)
13th – Kyle Kirkwood: 32 (-51)
13th – Graham Rahal: 32 (-51)
13th – Jimmie Johnson: 32 (-51)
16th – Conor Daly: 27 (-56)
16th – Kyle Kaiser: 27 (-56)
18th – Sebastien Bourdais: 24 (-59)
18th – Robert Wickens: 24 (-59)
20th – Pato O’Ward: 23 (-60)
21st – Zach Veach: 22 (-61)
22nd – Alexander Rossi: 21 (-62)
23rd – Felipe Nasr: 20 (-63)
24th – James Hinchcliffe: 18 (-65)
25th – Marcus Ericsson: 17 (-66)
26th – Scott Dixon: 14 (-69)
27th – Ed Carpenter: 12 (-71)
28th – Tony Kanaan: 11 (-72)
29th – Jack Harvey: 5 (-78)

Scott McLaughlin won the race at Barber Motorsports Park after placing fourth at Watkins Glen International. Sage Karam, the winner at Watkins Glen International, finished in 27th at Barber Motorsports Park.

Karam dominated the race from the pole position, just like he did at Watkins Glen International, but a late incident with Felix Rosenqvist and pit road speeding penalty knocked him out of the race.

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The remaining four races of the IndyCar iRacing Challenge are scheduled to take place at a “Driver’s Choice” virtual track (confirmed as Michigan International Speedway) on Saturday, April 11, a “Random Draw” virtual track on Saturday, April 18, virtual Circuit of the Americas on Saturday, April 25 to replace its original real-life race weekend and a non-IndyCar “Dream” virtual track on Saturday, May 2.

IndyCar: If iRacing kept standings, here’s what they’d look like

By Asher Fair | Apr 5, 2020

If standings were being kept for the IndyCar iRacing Challenge using IndyCar’s scoring system, here is what they would look like.