Power Rankings: Alex Palou Back on Familiar Perch

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.

Alex Palou became the first repeat winner of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season with a pole-to-checkered performance in Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered by AmFirst on Sunday, March 29.

Last year, Palou needed two races to become the first repeat winner. This season, he did it in Race 4 of the 18-race calendar.

The victory lifts him back to the top of the Power Rankings after ranking third and second the previous two race weekends. The four-time series champion has now led the Power Rankings for 33 of the last 35 race weekends, reclaiming the top spot from Kyle Kirkwood.

Here are the 10 drivers in the Power Rankings entering the break before the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Sunday, April 19 (5:30 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls):

↑10. Graham Rahal (No. 15 Fifth Third Bank Honda, Last Week: NR)

Rahal returns to the Power Rankings for the first time since last August after Portland International Raceway, the third-to-last race of the 2025 season. He qualified and finished third last weekend at Barber Motorsports Park, delivering one of his strongest weekends in recent memory. Rahal also has qualified third in two of the last three races, including Phoenix, where he finished ninth.

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

Dixon’s qualifying struggles continued with a 13th-place start at Barber, his best grid position this season. Race day remains a different story. He charged to seventh, continuing a trend this season. Dixon climbed from 15th to seventh in the Good Ranchers 250 on March 7 at Phoenix Raceway and from 20th to eighth in the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington on March 15.

↓8. Josef Newgarden (No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet, Last Week: 6)

Newgarden endured a quiet weekend at Barber, qualifying ninth and finishing 10th. That followed a difficult Arlington round after a practice crash before qualifying. His Phoenix win and charge from 23rd to seventh at St. Petersburg keep him fifth in points. He has appeared in the Power Rankings for four consecutive race weekends for the first time since the final five races of the 2024 season.

↑7. Marcus Ericsson (No. 28 Allegra Honda, Last Week: NR)

Ericsson returns to the Power Rankings for the first time since the season opener in St. Petersburg. The Andretti Global driver finished ninth at Barber, his third top-10 result in four races this season. He also won the NTT P1 Award at Arlington, the first of his career and started second at St. Petersburg. His results this season include finishes of sixth, 17th, fourth and ninth, respectively.

↓6. Pato O’Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, Last Week: 3)

O’Ward had his most difficult weekend of the season, starting 12th and finishing 17th at Barber. He entered the race as one of two drivers (Kirkwood the other) with top-five finishes in every event. He stays in the Power Rankings thanks to finishes of fifth, fourth and fifth in the opening three races. O’Ward is sixth in points.

↑5. Marcus Armstrong (No. 66 SiriusXM Honda, Last Week: 7)

Armstrong continues a steady start to the season. He has qualified inside the top six in back-to-back races and finished 10th and sixth, respectively, in them. He owns three top-11 finishes in four races, allowing him to secure ninth in points.

↑4. Christian Lundgaard (No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, Last Week: 9)

Lundgaard delivered one of the drives of the race at Barber, climbing from 10th to finish second. A slow final pit stop, however, prevented a potential challenge for the win. He also advanced from 18th to seventh the previous race, in Arlington. The Dane has three top-seven finishes in four races, including a third place at St. Petersburg. He’s third in points.

↑3. David Malukas (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, Last Week: 4)

Malukas has been among the strongest qualifiers this season, starting fifth, first, ninth and second. He has converted those into finishes of 13th, third, sixth and fourth. Consistency keeps him near the top of the Power Rankings and fourth in points.

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

Kirkwood slips one spot but remains one of the most consistent drivers in the field. He finished fifth at Barber and is the only driver with top-five results in every race this season. He won at Arlington and opened the season with finishes of fourth and second. Kirkwood leads Palou by two points in the standings.

↑1. Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Last Week: 2)

Palou leads the Power Rankings again after his second victory of the season at Barber. He has three top-two finishes in four races, including wins at St. Petersburg and Barber. A crash at Phoenix led to his only blemish, a 24th-place finish.