Bob Pockrass
FOX Motorsports Insider
Needless to say, the Long Beach Street circuit fits in the wheelhouse of Kyle Kirkwood.
With two wins in the past three years, Kirkwood has to bundle clearly for that course. But he has been consistent because of the first three races, so he is second in the Indycar classification behind Alex Palou.
Palou is the only driver who ends on stage for the first three Raes, with two wins and a second place on Sunday. It remains easily number 1.
Christian Lundgaard is the only other driver with at least two podiums this year, and he gets second place.
Here my Indycar Power Rankings via Long Beach. The series lasts a few weeks off until the race of 4 May in Barber Motorsports Park.
The hairdressing weekend starts with a piece of five consecutive weekends where the series will be on the right track (Barber, Indy Grand Prix, Indy 500 Qualifying, Indy 500 and Detroit Grand Prix).
NTT IndyCar series: Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach Highlights
Expired: No
On the edge: Marcus Ericsson, Santino Ferrucci, Alexander Rossi
10. Josef Newgarden (Last week: 4)
Newgarden had a disturbing lap belt error on Long Beach, for which an extra green flag pit stop required. I ended up the last two laps. Finishing the third, 13th and 27th were the expectation of the first three races of the Penske Diver this year.
9. Scott Dixon (LW: 7)
Three top to start the year for Dixon, and just like the driver just for him in this ranking, the problem was eligible. He only started this year in the first five rows. That is not a winery for finishes.
8. Will Power (LW: 9)
After Wreck to open the season at the opening round in St. Pete, Will Power has shown the opportunity to pass. I have 21st and finished sixth with Thermal and started 13th and finished fifth in Long Beach. He needs better Saturday.
7. Colton Herta (LW: 3)
Herta has speed, but gravy has not had the finishes to support it. He is not better ready than he started in a race this year. And admittedly, that would be difficult for the Andretti driver to do, so he started second in two of the three Raes.
6. Scott McLaughlin (LW: 5)
McLlaoughlin Rebol from a sour thermal with a sixth place on Long Beach. The Penske director only fell on this list because Oher -drivers rise.
5. Felix Rosenqvist (LW: 8)
With finishes of the seventh, fifth and fourth, the Meyer Shank driver just Sems to do everything right and put together solid days. Few would be surprised if he soon challenges a victory.
4. Kyle Kirkwood (LW: 10)
The victory over Long Beach Vit Kirkwood to the second in the series behind Palou. And the Andretti driver not only won on Long Beach, he won against the post – the first time a driver did this this year.
3. Pato O’Ward (LW: 2)
Is O’Ward too high on this list with his second in Thermal as his only top 10 of the season? Probability. But he looked strong on time and he has a McLaren teammate who pushes him.
2. Christian Lundgaard (LW: 6)
Lundgaard has back-to-back, third place finishes and has just been impressive in recent weeks. The move to McLaren already brings something out of him.
1. Alex Palou (LW: 1)
Palou remains the class of the Indycar field with its two wins and a second place. Say what you want if he has the speed in his car there, but he races with incredible craftsmanship and competence.
Bob Pockrass Coversar and Indycar for FOX Sports. He has spent decades about motorsport, including more than 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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