It is Power’s title to lose

Today’s Schedule: All Times Pacific

8:30 – 8:45 T&S On Track
9:00 – 9:30 Practice 1 Spec Racer Ford
9:45 – 10:15 Practice 1 US Touring Car Championship
10:30 – 10:45 OEM Laps
11:45 – 12:15 Practice 2 Spec Racer Ford
12:15 – 1:15 NTT INDYCAR Autograph Session
12:30 – 1:00 Practice 2 US Touring Car Championship
1:15 – 2:05 Practice Indy Lights
2:30 – 3:45 Practice 1 NTT INDYCAR Series  Peacock
4:00 – 4:30 Qualifying US Touring Car Championship
4:45 – 5:30 Two Seater Rides

I hate writing the preview for this particular race because it means the season ends in two days. 2022 has been a year of great racing and a tight championship points battle. But, the year end review has to wait ntil we see how the final chapter plays out.

While the main focus is on who wins the championship, there are a couple other stories to watch this weekend.

The Astor Cup Goes To…

With just 20 points separating the top three drivers and Marcus Ericsson just 39 points behind, any of the four has a shot. Realistically, I think it is Will Power’s title to lose.

The chart Indycar posted yesterday shows ahy Power is in good shape.

YEAR	LEADER	SECOND	LEAD	CHAMPION
2008	Scott Dixon	Helio Castroneves	30	Scott Dixon
2009	Scott Dixon	Dario Franchitti	5	Dario Franchitti
2010	Will Power	Dario Franchitti	12	Dario Franchitti
2011	Will Power	Dario Franchitti	11	Dario Franchitti
2012	Will Power	Ryan Hunter-Reay	17	Ryan Hunter-Reay
2013	Scott Dixon	Helio Castroneves	25	Scott Dixon
2014	Will Power	Helio Castroneves	51	Will Power
2015	Juan Pablo Montoya	Graham Rahal	34	Scott Dixon (-47)
2016	Simon Pagenaud	Will Power	43	Simon Pagenaud
2017	Josef Newgarden	Scott Dixon	3	Josef Newgarden
2018	Scott Dixon	Alexander Rossi	29	Scott Dixon
2019	Josef Newgarden	Alexander Rossi	41	Josef Newgarden
2020	Scott Dixon	Josef Newgarden	32	Scott Dixon
2021	Alex Palou	Pato O’Ward	35	Alex Palou
2022	Will Power	Josef Newgarden	20	?

Not since 2015, the first year the final race went to a road course, has a driver come from behind to snatch a title in the final race of the season. Scott Dixon, tied for second with Josef Newgarden this year, accomplished the feat. Dixon won the title on a tiebreaker. Newgarden holds the tiebreaker, most wins over all contenders. Dixon holds the tiebreaker over Power.

Power simply needs to finish third to win the title, or stay ahead of the other contenders.

Qualifying

Saturday’s qualifying results will have a huge impact on who finishes where during the race.It should be the most intense qulaifying session of the season. Power has four poles this season, and a fifth would go a long way toward his championship.

The Other Title

The race for Rookie of the Year has also come down to the last race of the yhear. Christian Lundgaard’s once healthy lead over David Malukas is down to five points. Both drivers have had a podium, both Lundgaard and Malukas have had strong second halves of the season. I think Malukas has a bit more momentum right now, and I think he will end up with the rookie honor.

Last Rides

At least four drivers will be driving one final time for their current team. The saddest parting of all is Alexander Rossi, who will leave Andretti and the 27 car for Arrow McLaren SP. Rossi burst on the Indycar scene wit his shocking win at the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 as a rookie. It will be strange not seeing him in the 27 in 2023. Next year will be the second year in a row we need to get used to a different driver in a famliar Andretti livery.

Kyle Kirkwood will move from A. J. Foyt Racing to Rossi’s 27 at Andretti. This kove was virtually predetermined before this year began. I hope Kirkwood will have a better year next season with Andretti.

Alex Palou will most likely not be oin the 10 for Chip Ganassi next season. here he drives in the McLaren stable is still unclear. IT may be a while before we see Palou in an Indycar again.

Felix Rosenqvist may or may not be having his final Indycar ride for AMSP Sunday. His situation is unclea. He could even be with a different team in 2023. What I finsd sad is that Rosenqvist and Pato O’Ward have been arguably the best teammates at working together on the grid. Their cars are consistently equal each weekend. This pair of drivers are the fiercest competitors on track and they support each other.

Is Sunday Colton Herta’s last Indycar drive for a while? A decision about his F1 super license will come early next week. If it is, we could se him leave with another dominating performance on a track his family owns, racing wise.ert

Will David Malukas return to Coyne? I would love to see what he could do in a second season there, but openeings at bigger teams will be beckoning. Malukas has shown steady growth throughout the year, and he could shine in 2023.,