INDYCAR: Power Rankings (Mid-season)

Wow.  THAT is how you go into halftime.  When the checkered flag few at Iowa Saturday night Indycar entered the halfway point of the 2011 season and Marco Andretti destroyed a long losing streak with his victory.  Another streak that was busted with the young American's win was the British Empire's stranglehold on the races this year; the winners had only been English, Scottish and Australian.  Fitting that happens on the final race weekend before the 4th of July.

 

Note: all the winners after all the races (USAC, Star Mazda, Indy Lights, Indycar) on Saturday at Iowa were American.  Every single one.

 

So combined with that and Will Power's concussion (and epic LIVE TV S-BOMB) who's got the momentum heading into the second half and who's better than whom in the mid-season edition of Power Rankings?

 

THE GRID

 

1.  Dario Franchitti

Previous Ranking: #2 (+1)

He is the definition of what you would call a "front-runner".  If he leads he's untouchable, but put him in the least bit of dirty-air and he just fades.

 

2.  Will Power

Previous Ranking: #1 (-1)

About that live-TV s-bomb of his...my man Roy Hobbson said it best on Twitter moments later.

 

3.  Scott Dixon

Previous Ranking:  #3 (no change)

He's moving up the list, gaining chunks of points and podium finishes quietly as usual.

 

4.  Tony Kanaan

Previous Ranking:  #5 (+1)

There is a thin line between genius and treachery....after one-half of the year completed engineer Mike Cannon and sponsor Geico have TK to thank for not appearing to cross it totally.

 

5.  Oriol Servia

Previous Ranking:  #4 (-1)

When doing an interview on SPEED TV's WindTunnel some just sit in an empty studio or racing shop.  Oriol?  Not his style.

 

6.  Marco Andretti

Previous Ranking:  #12 (+6)

Paul Tracy said it best on Trackforum....

 

7.  Graham Rahal

Previous Ranking:  #6 (-1)

Okay, so the son of Micheal Andretti found his way to victory lane again...Son of 'Stache, it's your turn.

 

8.  Danica Patrick

Previous Ranking:  #7 (-1)

I guess it beats last year....

 

9.  Alex Tagliani

Previous Ranking:  #8 (-1)

He made a new friend apparently on about lap 119.

 

10.  Helio Castroneves

Previous Ranking:  #9 (-1)

My guess to his recent tire failures is due to Chip Ganassi's most recent acquisition.

 

11.  Ryan Briscoe

Previous Ranking:  #10 (-1)

He hasn't shared the bad luck of his teammates recently, but doesn't quite have the results or performance either.

 

12.  JR Hildebrand

Previous Ranking:  unranked

Just when you think he's about to lose the ROTY battle.  The bad news for him and Panther Racing however is that Indycar returns to the road-courses.

 

13.  James Hinchcliffe

Previous Ranking:   #14 (+1)

Fire up the DVR.  The pre-race interview with Oriol Servia...if you didn't catch it, watch it again.  Closely.

 

14.  Justin Wilson

Previous Ranking:  #15 (+1)

He finished the first oval schedule kind of....good?  I guess he was so anxious for Toronto he wanted to get to the finish as quickly as he could.  It wasn't quite as quick last year.

 

15.  Ryan Hunter-Reay

Previous Ranking:  unranked

At this point in the season he'll take ANY decent finish like that.

 

DNQ (Bumped from the field)

 

Vitor Meira

Previous Ranking:  #11

I don't think AJ was too disappointed...he had his mind on something else at Iowa, I believe.  I would, too.

 

Takuma Sato

Previous Ranking:  #13

Another week, another barrier event for King Sato.  Judging the in-car audio TK believes in the King Sato nickname as well.

 

EJ Viso

Previous Ranking:  unranked

I'm actually going to give him a pass this week.  His backup car was never up to speed and even though he got in the way a few times he did manage to make a few nice saves.  Hey, if he can bring it back home in one piece then he had an okay race as far as I'm concerned.  The only problem is that at this point in his career he shouldn't be "settling" for anything.

 

Mike Conway

Previous Ranking:  unranked

Wow, Long Beach feels like it took place a decade ago.  The ovals certainly weren't kind to him and I bet he can't wait to run the twisties again.  I can think of no other driver who is more glad to return to the road courses and put the ovals behind them.  Well, I can think of one...

 

Simona De Silvestro

Previous Ranking:  unranked

So, with her new Iron Maiden nickname the question now is which awesome song best describes her..."The Wicker Man"?  "Wrathchild"?  Perhaps "Heaven Can Wait" or "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner"?  Considering her season thus far, it has to be a more somber number...but lyrically it's this one.  Sadly.