INDYCAR Power Rankings: Kirkwood and Lundgaard Biggest Movers With Strong Performances at Long Beach

Staff Writer - Jeffrey Hrunka

Marvin Hernandez Jr.

For the first time this season, Alex Palou had to play second fiddle as Kyle Kirkwood claimed his third career win, in a dominant showing on the Streets of Long Beach.

With the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix around the corner, here are Motorsports Today’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES power rankings after the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

10) Alexander Rossi (#20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet) (-)

Through three races, Rossi has two top tens with a worst finish of 15th at Long Beach last weekend. Although the American is in a new outfit, this is the second-best start to a season he’s had in the last six seasons.

9) Will Power (#12 Team Penske Chevrolet) (UR)

It was not if, but when Power would return to form after his lap one wreck on the Streets of St. Petersburg. He enters the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix with back-to-back top 10s, a sixth and fifth, sandwiched between his Team Penske teammates in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES standings.

8) Scott McLaughlin (#3 Team Penske Chevrolet) (-1)

A sixth–place finish was all McLaughlin needed to shake off his poor performance at the Thermal Club. With two top-10s through three races and entering Barber Motorsports Park as the back-to-back defending winner, he looks to take a step on the podium for the first time this season.

7) Pato O’ Ward (#5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet) (-1)

On paper, O’Ward has had a season to forget. A poor qualifying effort at St. Petersburg and a quiet day on the Streets of Long Beach resulted in two finishes outside the top-10 at 11th and 13th. These results are the sole podium of the year at Thermal Club.

However, for O’Ward, he blew a tire in the opening lap at St. Petersburg, which saw him go from last to a decent point haul. Historically, Long Beach has been one of his most inconsistent circuits, with one top-10 finish in five attempts. If there was a time for the 25-year-old to bounce back, it's now.

6) Felix Rosenqvist (#60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda) (+3)

Rosenqvist had the best start to his career through the first three races, as he is one of four drivers with two top-5s and three top-10s. He looks to carry this momentum into Barber, where he claimed his best point-paying finish last season.

5) Colton Herta (#26 Andretti Global) (-1)

Herta has struggled to translate his qualifying pace into race pace this season. He has yet to qualify outside of fourth, starting on the front row twice. The American has a top five and two top tens, but he has yet to claim a finish greater than fourth.

4) Scott Dixon (#9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) (-2)

Dixon has been quiet after his runner-up finish in the opening race at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. He hasn’t shown race-winning speed in the last two races, but has maintained consistency, being one of six drivers with three straight top-10 finishes.

3) Kyle Kirkwood (#27 Andretti Global) (+2)

After going winless last season, Kirkwood reached victory lane for the first time in two seasons for his second win on the Streets of Long Beach. This is the best start Kirkwood has had in his career. However, his main struggle with Andretti Global over the last three years has been maintaining consistency. 

2) Christian Lundgaard (#7 Arrow McLaren) (+1)

Lundgaard is quickly contesting the top dog position at Arrow McLaren, as two straight podiums and three straight top-10s launched him into third in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES standings. The Danes' momentum is assured to keep them at this spot with the street course portion of the schedule on the horizon.

1) Alex Palou (#10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) (-)

Palou's second-place finish on the Streets of Long Beach was the first hiccup in a perfect season for the Spaniard. With three straight podiums entering Barber, where he claimed his first career win, the three-time champ is poised to continue his consistency.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES season will return on Sunday, May 4, for the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports in Birmingham, Alabama.