We try to examine the points in the Verizon IndyCar Series on a fairly regular basis, trying to track big shifts or changes depending on certain stretches of races (Here was points post-Texas Motor Speedway, points post-Indianapolis 500, points post-Indianapolis 500 qualifying).
As IndyCar begins its brutal run of six races in four weekends, the fluctuating weather and form of the field meant there weren’t too many changes from pre-Houston to post-Houston.
Points leader Will Power had one of his worst ever weekends in IndyCar, yet retained the points lead and same gap (39 points) to Team Penske teammate Helio Castroneves.
All told, only one driver, Sebastien Bourdais, made a massive leap in the standings. The driver of the No. 11 Mistic KVSH Racing Chevrolet began the weekend 12th in points and ended eighth, after he was the only driver to score top-five finishes in both races.
There weren’t really any big losers, either, with several drivers dropping two positions from beginning to end of the weekend.
Anyway, here’s a breakdown of the 21 full-time drivers sit now leaving Houston, the second of three doubleheader weekends this season:
Driver TMS HOU Change 12 Will Power 1 1 3 Helio Castroneves 2 2 28 Ryan Hunter-Reay 3 3 77 Simon Pagenaud 4 4 2 Juan Pablo Montoya 7 5 +2 25 Marco Andretti 5 6 -1 34 Carlos Munoz 6 7 -1 11 Sebastien Bourdais 12 8 +4 9 Scott Dixon 8 9 -1 27 James Hinchcliffe 11 10 +1 10 Tony Kanaan 9 11 -2 19 Justin Wilson 10 12 -2 8 Ryan Briscoe 13 13 98 Jack Hawksworth 16 14 +2 83 Charlie Kimball 14 15 -1 7 Mikhail Aleshin 15 16 -1 18 Carlos Huertas 20 17 +3 15 Graham Rahal 19 18 +1 14 Takuma Sato 17 19 -2 67 Josef Newgarden 18 20 -2 17 Sebastian Saavedra 21 21
