With just two races remaining in the 2022 NTT IndyCar Series season, the Team Penske duo of Will Power and Josef Newgarden sit atop the standings with Power a mere three points ahead of his teammate.
Sat 14 points behind Power is six-time champion Scott Dixon, followed three points back by reigning Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson. Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing have long established decisive and proper control of the 2022 championship.
The presence of Dixon in the title discussion is more or less a given; few examples exist of a season where the 42 year old New Zealander has simply not contended for the title. Likewise, Will Power is a name fans rarely count out as the championship picture starts to come together. While the Toowoomba native’s name only boasts one title (2014) at the moment, runner up finishes in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2016 are a testament that although Power may not be running away with titles left and right, he’s often close enough to see his reflection in the Astor Cup.
Marcus Ericsson’s IndyCar career is too young to call the jury back to the courtroom. The Swede’s three career wins include Detroit, Nashville, and the aforementioned Indianapolis 500. Ericsson has been adequately consistent this season, but the first time we see him in a make or break title race is not the time to be declaring how fit he is to lift the Cup at season’s end.
That leaves Newgarden. Two-time series champion, 20 career wins, runner up in 2020 and 2021.
Capable of winning on every track in every condition, Newgarden has amassed more wins to this point in 2022 (five) than any other season in his career. The No. 2 team has been a constant threat on ovals, winning at Texas, Iowa 1, and Gateway with wins at Long Beach and Road America to boot.
It’s time for that season to get even better, if Newgarden wants a third title.
Normally it would be unwise to put the driver in second place in a make or break scenario. This season, that may well be the case. Newgarden is sandwiched between Power and Dixon, a cumulative nine titles between the three, with Ericsson just three points back from Dixon and very much in the chase for the title.
Power has been absolutely deadly in terms of consistency this year, as has Dixon. Newgarden’s two closest title rivals are driver’s that can’t be counted on to buckle under pressure or make unnecessary mistakes of negligence.
Ericsson may not be a threat week in and week out, but that may in fact…
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