How the 2015 IndyCar title can be won
Six drivers are in contention for the 2015 IndyCar title in Sunday's double-points Sonoma decider, but Juan Pablo Montoya could be tough to beat - as MARK GLENDENNING explains
IndyCar is awarding double-points for this weekend's season-finale at Sonoma, but even with the extra points on offer, the hopes of most of the six remaining contenders will be dependant upon Montoya encountering problems in the race.
Graham Rahal's DNF at Pocono last weekend gave Montoya a 34-point lead going into the weekend, which means that a solid performance by the Colombian on Sunday will be enough to eliminate all but his closest rivals.
Here's how the permutations break down for each of the contenders:
Juan Pablo Montoya wins the championship if: he finishes third or higher.
Graham Rahal wins the championship if: he wins the race, and Montoya finishes no higher than fourth. If Montoya is classified last, Rahal needs to finish eighth or better. If Rahal claims second or third, he needs Montoya to be no better than ninth or 13th respectively.
Scott Dixon will win the championship if: he wins the race and Montoya finishes no higher than seventh. Mathematically, the Kiwi can win with a third place, but he would be dependent upon Montoya finishing 18th or worse.
Will Power will win the championship if: he wins the race, and his Penske team-mate Montoya is no higher than 11th. If the reigning champion finishes second, he needs Montoya to be mired down in 21st or worse.
Helio Castroneves will win the championship if: he wins the race, and Montoya is classified no higher than 18th.
Josef Newgarden will win the championship if: he wins the race, Montoya is no higher than 24th, Rahal is no higher than ninth, Dixon is no higher than sixth, Power no better than third, and Rahal no better than second.
Scoring system for Sonoma: 100-80-70-64-60-56-52-48-44-40-38-36-34-32-30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-10 for 1st to 25th in the classification. Drivers who retire still score.
Bonus points: 1 for leading a lap, 2 for most laps led
Follow the IndyCar title decider as it happens with AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live from 9.45pm UK time on Sunday night
Sonoma IndyCar: Will Power claims season finale pole for Penske
Scott Dixon denies Juan Pablo Montoya 2015 IndyCar title at Sonoma
Why the time was right for Ford's F1 return with Red Bull
Some 22 years after pulling the plug out of Jaguar and handing the keys to a certain Dietrich Mateschitz, the paths of Ford and Red Bull have crossed again. And their 2026 Formula 1 alliance makes sense for both parties.
Vandoorne joins Peugeot WEC team as reserve driver
Reigning Formula E champion Stoffel Vandoorne will serve as Peugeot’s official reserve driver in its first full season in the World Endurance Championship in 2023.
Red Bull duo say Ricciardo F1 sim input will be a boost
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez reckon Red Bull will gain significantly from Daniel Ricciardo working in its simulator on Formula 1 weekends as part of his new third driver role.
Who needs a big year in MotoGP in 2023?
The beginning of the new season provides many with a fresh start, and for a few MotoGP contenders this applies for different reasons. From fighting to stay on the grid to battling for even bigger prizes beyond trophies, here’s five figures in need of a massive 2023
Nigel Mansell’s greatest F1 and Indycar drives
It’s 30 years since Mansell won the Formula 1 world title and then headed off to do battle in America. Here are his best races – and the Briton’s memories of them
How Ericsson achieved Indy immortality as Ganassi's main man stumbled
Chip Ganassi Racing team was strong again in the Indianapolis 500, with poleman Scott Dixon and reigning champion Alex Palou leading almost three quarters of the race between them. But when dominator Dixon was penalised for pitlane speeding, ex-Formula 1 driver Marcus Ericsson stepped up to score the biggest win of his career and seize the IndyCar points lead
Ranking the top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2021
In an enthralling 2021 IndyCar campaign, the series bounced back from its COVID-19 truncated year prior and Alex Palou defeated both the established order and his fellow young guns to clinch a maiden title. It capped a remarkable season with plenty of standout performers
How F1's other IndyCar exile finally unlocked his potential
Romain Grosjean's swashbuckling rookie year in IndyCar captured the imagination of many in 2021. But another ex-Formula 1 driver whose potential was masked by five years of toil in, at best, middling machinery also enjoyed a breakout year in 2021 - winning twice and finishing sixth in points. Here's how Marcus Ericsson finally delivered on his promise
How Ganassi's relentless new champion outfoxed IndyCar's best
IndyCar sophomore Alex Palou stunned by overcoming team-mate Scott Dixon and the rest of a white-hot field in 2021. He was consistently fast and crucially showed a level head, rebounding well from setbacks to put himself in a near unassailable position entering the final round
Have Harvey and RLL formed IndyCar’s next winning match-up?
Despite appearing to have an IndyCar job for life with Meyer Shank Racing, Jack Harvey’s departure and move to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing sparked plenty of debate. However, Harvey's and RLL's combined strengths could prove to be a winning combination - if they get the balance right
Remembering Dan Wheldon and his last and most amazing IndyCar win
Saturday 16 October marks the 10th anniversary of Dan Wheldon’s death. David Malsher-Lopez pays tribute, then asks Wheldon’s race engineer from 2011, Todd Malloy, to recall that magical second victory at the Indianapolis 500
Why Kyle Kirkwood is America's new IndyCar ace-in-waiting
Kyle Kirkwood, the record-setting junior formula driver, sealed the Indy Lights championship last weekend. But despite an absurdly strong junior career and scholarship money, his next move is far from clear
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.