INDYCAR Power Rankings: Pato O'Ward Dethrones Alex Palou, Moves To No. 1

Yes, Alex Palou is expected to win the championship. A couple of wins by Pato O’Ward isn’t going to change that.

But O’Ward winning two of the last three races? Yes, Palou won the race between, but that’s enough to lift O’Ward to the top of the rankings. 

And that's because Pato's other finish was a fifth, while Palou has a fifth and a 12th in the two races he didn’t win.

Pato O'Ward takes center podium after winning at Toronto

How long will he stay there? Both drivers are strong at Laguna Seca Raceway, the site of the race this weekend.

Here are this week’s power rankings after Toronto:

Dropped out: Josef Newgarden (Last Week: 8), Santino Ferrucci (Last Week: 10)

On the verge: Conor Daly, Josef Newgarden, Will Power

10. Rinus VeeKay (Last Week: Not Ranked)

VeeKay enjoyed his first podium finish in three years with a second at Toronto. But it also was his seventh top 10 of the season. Few would expect that from a Dale Coyne driver.

Rinus VeeKay looks on before the green flag

9. Colton Herta (Last Week: Not Ranked)

A fourth-place finish might have been mildly disappointing for the Andretti driver, considering he won from the pole last year. But it still was a more than respectable finish and his fourth top five of the season.

8. David Malukas (Last Week: 9)

Malukas finished ninth at Toronto for his fourth top 10 in his last eight starts. Maybe the most impressive thing about his ninth-place finish was that he started 15th.

David Malukas during race weekend at Toronto

7. Christian Lundgaard (Last Week: 7)

Lundgaard finished 13th in a little bit of an off-day in a race where an Arrow McLaren teammate won. He’s still fifth in the season point standings.

6. Felix Rosenqvist (Last Week: 5)

Rosenqvist