IndyCar: Way-too-early power rankings for 2024
By Asher Fair
IndyCar power rankings: No. 6 through No. 4
6. Linus Lundqvist
With all due respect to Marcus Ericsson, specifically his 2022 Indy 500 win, I think Chip Ganassi Racing may have gotten an overall upgrade when they signed Linus Lundqvist. Reminiscent of when Chip Ganassi signed Alex Palou for 2021, the move seemingly came out of nowhere.
All Ganassi needed to see from the 2022 Indy Lights champion was two starts for Meyer Shank Racing, and he was sold, netting Lundqvist the ride he had been waiting for after being left without one in 2023. A rookie competing full-time for IndyCar’s top team should be interesting.
5. Pato O’Ward
If Arrow McLaren can make a step forward and compete with Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing on a regular basis in 2024, then Pato O’Ward can be the key beneficiary. He and the team have had two winless seasons together in four years, and he still managed fourth place points finishes in both.
4. Scott McLaughlin
Scott McLaughlin’s consistency after the Indy 500, which saw him reel off 11 top nine finishes in 11 starts, has him on the radar of many as a potential championship contender in 2024.
Two reasons to be cautious: one, he didn’t win any of those races, and two, the same thing was said after last year. Even he admitted he doesn’t want to get ahead of himself. But a third place finish in the 2023 standings, which placed him highest within both Team Penske and Chevrolet, should provide even more momentum than last year.