Parity has reigned supreme this year, as eight different drivers have won a race this season. Seven drivers were still mathematically alive last weekend at Portland, but two were eliminated. Five are still eligible to take home the Astor Cup on Sunday, but two of them will need a minor miracle to make that happen. This is essentially a three-horse race, with a gap of just 20 points separating the trio.
The championship will once again be decided between the two powerhouse teams of Chip Ganassi Racing and Team Penske. This is the 14th time in the last 15 years that the title will be won by one of these two organizations. The only instance where another team won the title was when Ryan Hunter-Reay won with Andretti Autosport, a decade ago.
Will Power comes into the weekend as the leader, despite only having one victory this season. The last time a driver won the IndyCar title without multiple race wins was Tony Stewart in 1997. That speaks volumes to the remarkable consistency that Power has had this season, and his mental approach is a big part of that.
Power only needs a podium finish to secure his second championship. If he is able to do that on Sunday, it doesn’t matter what anyone else does. Qualifying and track position will be vital, which plays right into his hands. Earlier this season, the 2014 champion earned his 67th career pole, tying Mario Andretti on the all-time list. There have been 24 races at Laguna Seca, and 20 of them have been won by the driver starting on the front row. Only twice has a driver won this race by starting lower than 3rd on the grid.
“I just want to win this championship for the guys who have been with me for more than a decade like my engineer Dave Faustino and my data acquisition guy Robbie Atkinson and the group. It’s a lot less selfish for me this time around because they deserve it,” Power said. “I feel their pain over the years of losing so many. I’d love to win it for them. We’re in the best position and have the best shot. We’ll do everything we can.”
Ultimately, this is Power’s championship to lose. That is something he has done multiple times in the past, but this newer and more positive Will seems impossible to rattle. Unless something drastic happens to the No. 12 car on Sunday, Power will become a two-time champion.
Josef Newgarden has had the exact opposite type of season, with five race wins but several poor finishes. It has been a feast-or-famine type of year for the Penske ace, but he is in position…
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