INDYCAR Power Rankings: Alex Palou Doubles Down with Back-to-Back Wins at The Thermal Club

Staff Writer - Jeffrey Hrunka

Penske Entertainment/James Black

With a late pass on Pato O’Ward at The Thermal Club, Alex Palou secured his second win of the season in his quest to win his third championship in a row. He looks to be the first driver to accomplish this feat since former Chip Ganassi Racing driver Dario Franchitti won three championships from 2009-2011. The only question is if anyone can stop his dominance?

Motorsports Today’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES power rankings after The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix are here.

10) Alexander Rossi (#20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet) (UR)

The early underdog story of the year has to go to the American from Ed Carpenter Racing. Rossi has two top tens in his first two races: a tenth and a ninth-place finish. This puts him ninth in the points standings, ahead of notable championship contenders such as Will Power, Scott McLaughlin and Marcus Ericsson. The real question is whether he can keep this consistency up.

9) Felix Rosenqvist (#60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda) (UR)

Rosenqvist is one of five drivers who have opened the season with back-to-back top tens and a top five. He has shown consistency in his first two races, but has yet to demonstrate race-winning pace.

8) Josef Newgarden (#2 Team Penske Chevrolet)  (-4)

The Thermal Club was a quiet race for Newgarden for all the wrong reasons. To add to Team Penske’s difficult day, Newgarden had no speed throughout the race, struggling to stay inside the top 15. His podium at St. Petersburg has kept him on this list and in the title fight, -49 points back from Palou in seventh.

7) Scott McLaughlin (#3 Team Penske Chevrolet) (-4)

After McLaughlin ran into ups and downs at St. Petersburg, as he crashed in practice, ran the wrong strategy to start on pole and finish fourth. He did not have the same luck at The Thermal Club, as a warm-up spin forced him to retire, to finish 27th after he started 25th. 

6) Pato O’ Ward (#5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet) (+3)

After O’Ward had a race to forget at St. Petersburg, as he started 23rd, cut his tire on lap one and rallied back for an 11th-place finish. He redeemed himself as he qualified on pole and led 51 of the 65 laps, but lost the lead in the closing laps to Palou. If O’Ward wants a shot at his first IndyCar title, he must be able to perform consistently..

5) Kyle Kirkwood (#27 Andretti Global Honda) (-)

Kirkwood has been the most consistent of his Andretti Global teammates with a 6.5 average finish through two races. The only stipulation is that this pace is without a race-winning speed, as he has struggled to translate his success in practice into his race. His consistency keeps him in fifth in the power rankings.

4) Colton Herta (#26 Andretti Global Honda) (+2)

A mistake by Herta’s team on pit road in St. Petersburg shifted the American off a winning strategy, finished 11th. He has proved he can contend at the front of the field without error, as he started and finished fourth at Thermal Club.

3) Christian Lundgaard (#7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet) (+4)

If there were one driver who could take on the likes of Chip Ganassi Racing at the front of the field, it would be Lundgaard. Back-to-back top tens in the first two races, combined with two “Fast Six” appearances, the Danish driver is quickly becoming a championship threat in his first year with Arrow McLaren.

2) Scott Dixon (#9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) (-)

A second-place finish at St. Petersburg and a tenth-place finish at the Thermal Club slot Dixon third in the points standings. Although the New Zealander has had an identical season to the two Arrow McLaren foes, O’Ward and Lungaard, his championship experience gives him the edge in who can be counted on to perform down the stretch.

1) Alex Palou (#10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) (-)

Palou continues to prove why he is the best driver on the circuit, opening the season with back-to-back wins for the first time. His dominance, combined with the grid's inconsistency, has the three-time champion at the top of the standings, 39 points ahead of O’Ward, who’s in second.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES season will return on Sunday, April 13, for the Acura Long Beach Grand Prix in Long Beach, California.