Power Rankings: Kyle Kirkwood Reaches Summit for First Time

Editor’s Note: Power Rankings is a feature after every NTT INDYCAR SERIES race in which INDYCAR.com staff writer Eric Smith ranks the top 10 drivers in the series based on objective recent and season-long performance statistics and the subjective “eye test” from race weekends.

Kyle Kirkwood supplanted Josef Newgarden for the top spot in the Power Rankings after his victory in the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington. This marks the first time Andretti Global driver Kirkwood has led the rankings. Same with the points standings, too.

Alex Palou moves from third last week to second after finishing runner-up to Kirkwood in Arlington.

Here are the drivers joining Kirkwood and Palou entering the off week. Next is the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix on Sunday, March 29 at Barber Motorsports Park (1 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

↔10. Scott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Last Week: 10)

Dixon climbed from 15th to seventh in the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway and from 20th to eighth in Arlington for his second consecutive top-10 finish. The six-time series champion has appeared in the rankings after 34 of the last 35 race weekends.

↑9. Christian Lundgaard (No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, Last Week: NR)

Lundgaard climbed from 18th to seventh for his second top-10 finish in three races this season. He finished 13th at Phoenix and third in the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. He returns to the rankings and has appeared here after six of the last seven race weekends.

↑8. Alexander Rossi (No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet, Last Week: 9)

Rossi started and finished sixth at Phoenix and started 10th and finished ninth in Arlington. He is 10th in points after a 16th-place finish in St. Petersburg.

↑7. Marcus Armstrong (No. 66 Root Insurance Honda, Last Week: 8)

Armstrong started sixth and finished 10th in Arlington for his third top-11 finish in three races this season. He enters Barber ninth in points.

↓6. Josef Newgarden (No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet, Last Week: 1)

Newgarden endured a difficult weekend in Arlington, crashing in Saturday morning practice before starting 11th and finishing 15th. His victory at Phoenix and climb from 23rd to seventh at St. Petersburg leave him third in points.

↑5. Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 DEX Team Penske Chevrolet, Last Week: 6)

McLaughlin climbed from last (25th) to finish 11th in Arlington. He is fifth in points after a pole and runner-up finish in St. Petersburg and an eighth-place result at Phoenix.

↑4. David Malukas (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, Last Week: 5)

Malukas started ninth and finished sixth in Arlington. That follows his first career NTT P1 Award at Phoenix, where he led a race-high 73 of 250 laps and finished third.

↑3. Pato O’Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, Last Week: 4)

O’Ward is one of two drivers (Kirkwood the other) with top-five finishes in all three races this season. He finished fifth in Arlington after results of fifth in St. Petersburg and fourth at Phoenix. The Mexican driver has appeared in the Power Rankings for 21 consecutive race weekends.

↑2. Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Last Week: 3)

Palou has two top-two finishes in three races this season. He won the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, leading a race-high 59 of 100 laps. A crash in Phoenix led to a 24th-place finish.

↑1. Kyle Kirkwood (No. 27 JM Bullion/Gold.com Honda, Last Week: 2)

Kirkwood climbed from seventh to earn his sixth career victory in the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington. He leads the championship after finishes of fourth, second and first in the opening three races.