Alex Palou did nothing Sunday that would indicate he should be replaced atop the INDYCAR power rankings. He went home with the trophy, and that was more than good enough.
But the big movers were Scott Dixon and Andretti teammates Kyle Kirkwood and Marcus Ericsson after strong weekends.
Here are this week’s power rankings as the series takes a few weeks off before a March 23rd date at The Thermal Club in California.
On the verge: Marcus Armstrong, Christian Lundgaard, Alexander Rossi
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Dropped out: Santino Ferruci (LW: 8); Nolan Siegel (LW: 9)
10. Felix Rosenqvist (Last Week: Not Ranked)
The Michael Shank-Ganassi alliance appeared to pay dividends. But even if he didn’t have the help of another team, it shouldn’t have been much of a surprise to see Rosenqvist finish seventh. Maybe more of a surprise was the flat speed he showed in qualifying third.
9. Will Power (LW: 6)
Power had a weekend to forget with multiple hybrid issues and first-lap crash. Thermal can’t come soon enough.
8. Marcus Ericsson (LW: NR)
The Ericsson vibe is for a potential breakout year in his second season at Andretti since coming from Ganassi. He started seventh and finished sixth at St. Petersburg. Solid day.
7. Kyle Kirkwood (LW: 10)
Kirkwood started ninth and finished fifth at St. Pete, his best finish in four tries at the track. He can certainly build on that solid start.
6. Pato O’Ward (LW: 5)
O’Ward never got the feel he wanted in qualifying and then had a puncture on the opening lap. He salvaged 11th place. The season will get better.
5. Scott Dixon (LW: 7)
Dixon started sixth and finished second for quite a solid opening weekend. But he departed feeling he left something on the table, as radio issues kept him from winning the races and he didn’t pit on the lap the team would have wanted.
4. Colton Herta (LW: 3)
Herta started on the front row but a slow pit stop relegated him to 16th place. That shouldn’t happen often.
3. Josef Newgarden (LW: 4)
Newgarden was strong but fueling issues resulted in him getting off the strategy he wanted and running out of fuel on the final lap. And he still finished third.
2. Scott McLaughlin (LW: 2)
McLaughlin earned the pole and finished fourth. He felt he had the speed, that he just needed the strategy to work in his favor.
1. Alex Palou (LW: 1)
Palou started eighth and it could have made one think that he’d be good but not great Sunday. Don’t doubt the two-time defending champion. He, of course, was great.
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
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