Alex Palou Indianapolis, IN - during practice for the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Jones | IMS Photo)
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IndyCar: Power vs. Palou point scenarios for title race in Nashville

Posted by AR1 staff

Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou goes into the season finale NTT IndyCar race next weekend with a 33-point lead over Team Penske driver Will Power. This article looks at the various ways the two drivers can each win their 3rd IndyCar title

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Given the 33-point deficit, Will will need a flawless performance Sept. 14-15 at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix season finale at Nashville Superspeedway. And he would need Alex to have an unusually bad race.

Alex has 13 top five finishes in the season’s 16 races so far, an incredibly consistent performance, not unlike how he won the 2023 title.

The maximum points possible in a race is 54:
50 for a victory
1 for pole position
1 for leading a lap
2 for most laps led in the race.
54 total

Will must earn 34 points more than Alex next weekend in Nashville to win the title. Any scenario that leaves them in a tie would mean Will is champion because he has 3 race wins this year and Alex only has 2.

Will Power. Photo courtesy of Penske Entertainment/ Chris Owens

Various Nashville Point Scenarios

Will Power Alex Palou
Scenario Race Finish Pole Leads a Lap Leads Most Laps Points Earned Race Finish Pole Leads a Lap Leads Most Laps Points Earned Difference Who wins title?
1  1st  Yes  Yes  Yes  54  9th No No No  22 Power +32  Palou
2  1st  No  Yes  Yes  53  10th No No No  20 Power +33  Power on tie
3  1st  No  Yes  No  51  11th No No No  19 Power +32  Palou
4  1st  No  Yes  No  51  12th No No No  18 Power +33  Power on tie
5  1st  No  Yes  Yes  53 10th Yes No No 21 Power +32  Palou
6  1st  No  Yes  No  51  13th Yes Yes No  19 Power +32  Palou
7  1st  Yes  Yes  No  52  14th No Yes Yes  19 Power +33  Power on tie
8  1st  Yes  Yes  No  52  13th No Yes Yes  20 Power +32  Palou
9 2nd  Yes  Yes  Yes  44  18th No No No  12 Power +32  Palou
10 2nd  No  Yes  Yes 43 20th No No No 10 Power +33  Power on tie
11 2nd  No  Yes  No 41 21st No No No 9 Power +32  Palou
12 2nd  No  Yes  No 41 22nd No No No 8 Power +33  Power on tie
13 2nd  No  Yes  Yes 43 20th Yes No No 11 Power +32  Palou
14 2nd  No  Yes  No 41 23rd Yes Yes No 9 Power +32  Palou
16 2nd  Yes  Yes  No 42 24th No Yes Yes 9 Power +32  Palou
16 2nd  Yes  Yes  No 42 25th or worse No Yes Yes 8 Power +32  Palou
17 3rd  Yes  Yes  Yes 39 23rd No No No 7 Power +32  Palou
18 3rd  No  Yes  Yes 38 25th or worse No No No 5 Power +33  Power on tie
19 3rd  No  Yes  No 36 25th or worse No No No 5 Power +31  Palou
20 3rd  No  Yes  Yes 38 25th or worse No No No 5 Power +33  Power on tie
21 3rd  No  Yes  Yes 38 25th or worse Yes No No 6 Power +32  Palou
22 3rd  No  Yes  Yes 38 25th or worse Yes Yes No 7 Power +31  Palou
23 3rd  Yes  Yes  No 37 25th or worse No Yes Yes 8 Power +29  Palou
There are other possible scenarios. Any scenario where Power gains 32 or less points on Palou means Palou will be the champion