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INDYCAR: Power Rankings (Iowa)

By fleshwound_NPG@fleshwound_NPG Jun 21, 2012, 10:05am EDT

Summer Vacation for all, Summer School for Lotus peeps. See me after class, Simona.

I know technically this should be a mid-season Power Rankings episode, but the usual mid-season summer mini-vacation Indycar takes doesn't happen until post-Iowa. That also means I've got this blog, the Friday Setup, and BAM...SUMMER VACATION. No sleep til Toronto.

But do we really want this break? We've got Penske/Ganassi on the ropes (bad example, boxing isn't a legit sport anymore...instead we've got Penske/Ganassi in submission and wanting to tap-out). We haven't had back-to-back oval races that saw NO Penske/Ganassi car winning in five years; we can't stop now! WE MUST FEED ON ROGER PENSKE'S ARTHRITIC HIP AND CHIP GANASSI'S TANK ASS (but not Big Chip Junior, because this is a family blog...sort of).

So, with the final Power Rankings before midterms where are those famous Red Car drivers? Not all of them are where they usually are...

(This week's Power Rankings after the jump)

THE GRID

1. Scott Dixon

Previous ranking: 1 (no change)

Judging from his facial expression in the post-race interview he was pretty "sad" about the false penalty. I think.

2. James Hinchcliffe

Previous ranking: 5 (+3)

#HinchForChampionship

3. Will Power

Previous ranking: 3 (no change)

See? Just a few ovals later and he's no longer a mortal lock.

4. Simon Pagenaud

Previous ranking: 4 (no change)

Look at the bright side, you finished in between a group of Penske and Ganassi cars.

5. Helio Castroneves

Previous ranking: 6 (+1)

The next time he dances in front of a camera during a rain-delay Beaux Barfield has got to give him a drive through.

6. Dario Franchitti

Previous ranking: 2 (-4)

Could it be....?!?!?!?!

7. Ryan Hunter-Reay

Previous ranking: 12 (+5)

Number of wins since IZOD left him: 2. Number of wins by Ryan Briscoe in that span: 0.

8. Tony Kanaan

Previous ranking: 9 (+1)

He had to have that podium finish. Not just to improve points position, but to actually outperform Rubens and Viso on an oval...?!?!??!

9. Ryan Briscoe

Previous ranking: 7 (-2)

It's becoming increasingly difficult to justify his place at Penske. Which means he'll probably score the pole or win in Iowa.

10. Oriol Servia

Previous ranking: 13 (+3)

Rendering "There's no passing in IndyCar" arguments VERY INVALID.

11. Alex Tagliani

Previous ranking: 11 (no change)

Not only did he not hold the Top 5 position he had midway through the race, but in doing so he robbed us of Bronte TV air time.

12. JR Hildebrand

Previous ranking: 8 (-4)

Chevy might have won the day, but it lost in the "spectacular engine failure" competition.

13. Justin Wilson

Previous ranking: 10 (-3)

BBQ'ed.

14. Graham Rahal

Previous ranking: 14 (no change)

Our bus drivers are faster than yours.

15. EJ Viso

Previous ranking: unranked

I kind of miss the old Viso. Kevin Kalkhoven and Jimmy Vasser don't.

DNQ (Bumped from the field)

Ed Carpenter

I hope all that lifting of the throttle and breaking during the race didn't bore him and the rest of the Hulman-George clan to death...like it DIDN'T do for us.

Rubens Barrichello