The King’s Reign Continues; Double Win Launches Pato O’Ward

Editor's Note: Power Rankings is a feature published after every NTT INDYCAR SERIES race in which INDYCAR.com staff writer Eric Smith ranks the top 10 drivers based on recent and season-long performance, statistical trends and the eye test from race weekends.

Pato O’Ward picked up his second and third wins of the season Sunday in the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 and the resumption of the Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250.

His teammate, Christian Lundgaard, also had a strong weekend with third- and sixth-place finishes, respectively, allowing Arrow McLaren to supplant Andretti Global on the momentum train.

Here’s the top 10 entering the 2026 season finale, the Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey on Sunday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

↓10. Will Power (No. 26 Phoenix Investors Honda, Last Rank: 3)

Power was caught speeding on his final pit stop in the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250, dropping him to 14th despite leading 19 laps. He crashed and finished 25th in the second race. While he hasn’t won a race since August 2025 at Portland International Raceway, a 20-race drought, the two-time series champion has four podium finishes, all third-place results, in the past eight races.

↓9. Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Snap-on Team Penske Chevrolet, Last Rank: 6)

Newgarden led five laps and looked like he was in contention for the win in the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 before a crash on Lap 150 left him 25th. He rebounded to finish seventh later in the day for his seventh top-10 finish in the past nine races.

↓8. Marcus Ericsson (No. 28 InPwr Honda, Last Rank: 4)

Ericsson finished ninth and eighth in Milwaukee for his sixth and seventh top-10 finishes in the last 10 races. He was one of eight drivers to earn top-10 finishes in both Milwaukee Mile races.

↑7. David Malukas (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet; Last Rank: NR)

Malukas rebounded from a three-race stretch of finishes 12th, 17th and 24th, respectively, to finish second and fourth in Milwaukee. He returns to Power Rankings, as last week was the first time all season he was out.

↑6. Rinus VeeKay (No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, Last Rank: 9)

VeeKay finished seventh and third in Milwaukee. He led 25 laps in the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 and has six top-seven finishes in the last nine races.

↑5. Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet, Last Rank: 7)

McLaughlin finished runner-up and fourth at Milwaukee Mile. He has seven top-eight finishes in the past nine races but rides a 36-race winless streak dating to his 2024 Milwaukee Mile victory. This is the 10th consecutive race McLaughlin has been ranked.

↓4. Kyle Kirkwood (No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda, Last Rank: 2)

The Washington, D.C., winner climbed from 24th to sixth in the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 and finished 15th in the other race. He has eight top-10 finishes in the last 10 races. This is the ninth consecutive race Kirkwood has been ranked in the top five.

↑3. Christian Lundgaard (No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, Last Rank: 5)

Lundgaard earned his first oval podium with a third-place finish in the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 and was sixth in the Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 for his ninth top-10 finish in the past 10 races. This is the sixth time in the last eight races Lundgaard has been ranked in the top five. He’s second in points with one race remaining.

↑2. Pato O’Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, Last Rank: 8)

O’Ward swept the Milwaukee weekend, scoring his second and third victories of the season. He led 174 of 500 laps in the doubleheader. O’Ward has five top-seven finishes in the past seven races and has been included in 47 of the 48 editions of Power Rankings.

↔1. Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Last Rank: 1)

Palou clinched his fifth series championship at Milwaukee Mile, including four in a row to tie Sebastien Bourdais’ series record for consecutive titles. Only A.J. Foyt (seven) and Scott Dixon (six) have more championships. Palou led 115 of 250 laps in a fifth-place finish from the pole in the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 and finished 10th in the Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 to seal the title.