IndyCar: One question each title contender must answer

Five drivers have a chance to win the 2022 IndyCar championship in this Sunday afternoon’s Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Even without a playoff format or a double points-paying championship race, five drivers have a chance to win the 2022 IndyCar title in Sunday afternoon’s Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the 17th of 17 races on this year’s schedule.

Team Penske’s Will Power holds a 20-point lead over teammate Josef Newgarden and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon in the championship standings, while Chip Ganassi Racing’s Marcus Ericsson and Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin sit 39 and 41 points behind, respectively.

There are 54 points up for grabs in Sunday afternoon’s 95-lap race around the 11-turn, 2.238-mile (3.602-kilometer) natural terrain road course in Monterey, California: 50 for the race winner, one for the polesitter, one for any driver who leads at least one lap, and two for the driver who leads the most laps.

With all entrants guaranteed to score five points, any given contender is capable of making up 49 points on another contender.

So Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou and Arrow McLaren SP’s Pato O’Ward, who sit 66 and 67 points behind Power, respectively, are no longer eligible.

Here is one question that each of the five contenders will have answered by the time Sunday’s race comes to an end, beginning with the points leader: