NTT INDYCAR SERIES

2027 Way-Too-Early INDYCAR Power Rankings: Surprise! Alex Palou On Top

Updated Sep. 8, 2026 6:58 p.m. ET

Want to talk 2027 INDYCAR racing?

I know, it’s a little hard, as INDYCAR has not even released a full schedule.

Not knowing the exact number of ovals and road courses makes predicting who will be better and who will be worse more difficult than normal.

But with 2026 fresh in our minds, here’s my waaaaayyyy-too-early power rankings going into next season.

On the verge: Marcus Armstrong, Scott Dixon, Rinus VeeKay

10.

Josef Newgarden, Team Penske No. 2 Chevrolet

He was eighth in points. But frankly, any of the three drivers listed as being on the verge could be here with a strong argument — especially because Newgarden struggled at several races. He did triumph on a couple of short ovals where he is always good. But Newgarden was hurt for much of the year, and leaving him off the top 10 seemed wrong.

Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global No. 28 Honda

Ericsson was seventh in the standings, marking a huge turnaround from 2025 when he was 20th. He got the win at Markham and the Andretti Global team should be strong, with all three drivers returning next season.

Will Power, Andretti Global No. 26 Honda

Power finished 11th in the standings and that was mostly on him in his first year at Andretti after a lengthy Penske tenure. He led laps in 12 races but only had five podiums. Fewer mistakes and some better racing luck, and he could have a solid 2027.

Felix Rosenqvist, Arrow McLaren (No. TBA) Chevrolet

Rosenqvist, the Indianapolis 500 winner, makes the move from Meyer Shank to McLaren for next season. He should be solid and quite comfortable, returning to an organization he previously drove for — even if they at one point let him go.

Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren No. 5 Chevrolet

O’Ward was fourth in the standings this year but now that McLaughlin and Malukas have improved, this means he will have to get better at the same pace. With his inconsistency on road and street courses (he did win at Mid-Ohio), it is hard to be confident that will happen.

Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske No. 3 Chevrolet

The pole and the win in the season finale at Laguna Seca was a statement victory at a track that Alex Palou has typically dominated. It was a sign that McLaughlin, who was sixth in the standings in 2026, has more wins coming.

David Malukas, Team Penske No. 12 Chevrolet

Malukas was fifth in the standings in 2026 and has a huge upside as he enters his second season at Team Penske. He will likely need to win a couple of races, though, to finish ahead of the projected top three.

Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global No. 27 Honda

Kirkwood was second in the standings in 2026 and earned two big wins at Arlington and Washington. He will be in the mix, and the only reason he is third is because cracking a Palou-Lundgaard combination is going to take everything going right.

Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren No. 7 Chevrolet

Yes, I know it hasn’t been announced yet but who else is going in that seat? Lundgaard is going to an organization that traditionally has been a stronger program than where he was. He finished 10 points out of second this year, and he could gain those by driving for Ganassi.

Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing No. 10 Honda

Until someone keeps the five-time champion — who has won the title in each of the last four years and has won 14 races in the last two seasons — from winning races, he’s going to be No. 1. There’s no reason to think he loses anything going into 2027.