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INDYCAR: Power Rankings (Motegi)

By fleshwound_NPG@fleshwound_NPG Sep 15, 2011, 6:46pm EDT

I'm going to laugh if this Motegi road-course is more entertaining than the oval. It's been sitting there all along.

So it's safe to say that Baltimore was a success. It had the highest TV ratings for an IndyCar race on Versus ever and drew a massive crowd. Oh yea, and the point fight is dangerously close now. Also the positive momentum continues with the Lotus/Judd engine program isn't quite as "vaporware" as some internet trolls think it is and now the 5 million dollar Vegas challenge (that had no takers) is now a 5 million dollar bet on Indy 500 champ Dan Wheldon and a fan can go 50/50 on the winnings with him.

So, how can IndyCar keep up the momentum? A road-course race halfway across the world that starts late and ends in the middle of the night. Doh.

Positive waves, guys! Positive waves! Maybe none of the top drivers can figure out the course? Maybe we can see a first-time winner? Who knows. What I do know is that the Power Rankings has a new leader heading into Motegi (well, he hasn't been up top in a while).

THE GRID

(Cue the grid music....and Murray Walker, I guess)

1. Will Power

Previous Ranking: #2 (+1)

Since the bird incident he's been unstoppable. The key to success is being pissed off, apparently. Graduate of the Mike Ditka school of Racing?

2. Dario Franchitti

Previous Ranking: #1 (-1)

He might lose the title due to either the draw in Texas and/or the earthquake in Japan forcing the use of a road course.

3. Scott Dixon

Previous Ranking: #3 (no change)

His wife just gave birth, also Sarah, and within the past year or so a few bloggers have had children as well...which begs the question WHAT IS IN THE ETHANOL?

4. Oriol Servia

Previous Ranking: #4 (no change)

Baltimore Oriol

5. Tony Kanaan

Previous Ranking: #6 (+1)

LUCKY

6. Ryan Hunter-Reay

Previous Ranking: #7 (+1)

Just think of the year he would be having had not for the bad luck of the first half. He would be fighting for the Best-of-the-Rest title with Servia/TK.

7. Ryan Briscoe

Previous Ranking: #5 (-2)

The Golden Bowling Ball Award goes to...the man who caused a 15-car pileup.

8. Graham Rahal

Previous Ranking: #9 (+1)

Some strategy. Went from fighting with Will Power for the race win to irrelevant and anonymous Top-10.

9. Marco Andretti

Previous Ranking: #8 (-1)

Every primer-colored car I've ever known has been slow and broken down. Appropriate choice, Dr. Pepper.

10. Vitor Meira

Previous Ranking: #10 (no change)

His season has been pretty uneventful and decent. For Foyt Racing, that's equivalent to a Top-5 season finish.

11. Danica Patrick

Previous Ranking: #12 (+1)

Danica vs. Brazil....WHO YA GOT?!?!?

12. Alex Tagliani

Previous Ranking: #13 (+1)

If the rumors are true he's driving for his next ride. If he can find one.

13. James Hinchcliffe

Previous Ranking: #11 (-2)

Like Simona De Silvestro did last year he's giving up way too many points on the road courses for the Rookie of the Year title. Like Simona, it's not entirely his fault.

14. Simona De Silvestro