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
Previous article
Sonoma IndyCar: Will Power claims season finale pole for Penske
Next article
Scott Dixon denies Juan Pablo Montoya 2015 IndyCar title at Sonoma
Indy500: Starting grid
IndyCar: Colton Herta takes victory at St. Pete
Barber IndyCar: Lap 1 Crash
Barber IndyCar: Palou wins at Birmingham
Why IndyCar’s longest silly-season is still far from over
OPINION: The 2021 IndyCar silly season has been one of the silliest for many years, as many talented drivers remain in play – with new pieces to the puzzle being added all the time. Here's what we know so far about who will end up where in 2022
Why IndyCar's generational shift isn't as stark as it appears
OPINION: The rise of two drivers racing only their second full-season IndyCar campaigns to head the points with four races to go has led to some observers doubting the credentials of the old guard. But they haven't faded away, there's merely a deeper talent pool that is helping to make this season one of the best in recent years
The F1 champion who became an Indy king in his second career
Emerson Fittipaldi’s decision to go racing with his brother led to him falling out of F1, but he bloomed again on the IndyCar scene. NIGEL ROEBUCK considers a career of two halves
The lasting legacy of a fallen Indycar rookie
Jeff Krosnoff was plucked out of obscurity to become a respected and highly popular professional in Japan, and then got his big break in Indycar for 1996. But a tragic accident at Toronto 25 years ago cut short a promising career and curtailed his regular team-mate Mauro Martini's passion for racing
The two key areas where Dixon needs to re-assert his authority
OPINION: Having been Chip Ganassi Racing's IndyCar focal point for the best part of a decade, Scott Dixon has been so far outgunned by new team-mate Alex Palou in 2021. After finishing behind the Spaniard at his traditional happy hunting ground at Mid-Ohio, Dixon has work to do to assume his traditional position in the team and the standings
The winners and losers of IndyCar 2021 so far
At the halfway point in the 2021 IndyCar Series season, we've had seven winners in eight races, spread between five teams – none of them Team Penske. In this unusual season, even by IndyCar standards, who’s excelling and who’s dragging their heels?
Castroneves: How I kept it under control to make Indy 500 history
Helio Castroneves’ overwhelming vivaciousness outside the cockpit belies a hardcore racer who knows how to plot his moves – and then recall it all. A day after his fourth Indy 500 win, he explained his tactics
How 'chess master' Castroneves cemented his Indy legend status
Helio Castroneves joined AJ Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears with the most Indianapolis 500 wins after edging past Alex Palou on the penultimate lap of a thrilling race that validated Michael Shank's faith in the veteran Brazilian - who is discovering that there is life after Penske after all
