Indy 500: Ranking all 34 drivers, from No. 34 to No. 1

Indy 500 rankings: No. 15 – Scott McLaughlin

Scott McLaughlin has shown well on the ovals since coming to IndyCar, finishing in second place in his oval debut at Texas Motor Speedway back in 2021, but he is still seeking his first win at a track without right turns and has not exactly fared nicely at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

He finished in 20th place after starting in 17th in 2021, and he crashed out after starting in 26th last year. If Team Penske can get back to being a frontrunning team, which they haven’t been at the Brickyard since 2019, perhaps he deserves to be ranked a bit higher.

Indy 500 rankings: No. 14 – Ed Carpenter

Ed Carpenter is another driver whom everybody would like to see finally break through and win an Indy 500, but every year, it eludes him. The three-time polesitter is almost always fast on qualifying weekend, but on race day, he really hasn’t had a car capable of winning since he finished in a career-high second place in 2018. Can this finally be the year for the Butler Bulldog?

Indy 500 rankings: No. 13 – Will Power

Will Power’s last few Indy 500s show just how quickly things can change at the speedway, even for a former race winner. Since winning the race in 2018 and contending again in 2019, the only real headline the two-time champion has made came because he almost failed to qualify in 2021.

But once again, don’t discount the 18-time Indy 500-winning team’s ability to end a three-year dry spell during which they haven’t really been much of a factor.