Only three drivers have finished in the top 10 in each of the first three IZOD IndyCar Series events. Will Power is not one, which underlines the series' high level of competition and, in general, the vagaries of motorsports.

Power won three of the first four races of the 2012 season, including the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle on April 29 for the third consecutive year. Power has been denied leaping from the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car in Victory Circle since -- 14 races won by nine different drivers -- though he has recorded seven top 10s in that span, including consecutive runner-up finishes after starting from the pole at Mid-Ohio and Sonoma last August.

Currently, the North Carolina resident is in eighth place in the standings heading to the 2.536-mile, 11 turn temporary Sao Paulo street course he's owned in rain and dry weather for the May 5 race (11 a.m. ET on NBC Sports Network).

Click it: Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle entrant list

It's not because of poor qualifying (he's started first second and third on the road/street courses), but "it's the little things" such as contact, a malfunctioning clutch and a poor race start that have prevented more positive results.

And this season, "you can't leave anything on the table," Power noted. To wit:

3 - Different race winners, including first-time winners James Hinchcliffe and Takuma Sato.

5 - Different teams were represented in the top five in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

7 - Different teams are represented in the top 10 in the IZOD IndyCar Series standings.

8 - Different drivers have scored podium finishes.

13 - Drivers with at least one top-five finish.

20 - Drivers with at least one top-10 finish. 

The good news for Power and others is only 38 points separate first through 10th place in the championship standings, and there are 16 races left.

"I think (the competition is) just so tense," said Justin Wilson, who charged from the 24th starting position to earn third place at Long Beach in the No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing entry. "There are so many drivers in this championship that are capable of winning races. When you do your lap in the car, you don't know when you come in if you're first or 25th.

"You can't afford to miss anything. You can't afford to have a bad result. The way this championship happens, when racers have had bad results, it opens it right up. I think it's going to be more intense and interesting as the season goes on."