The percolating championship battle in the IZOD IndyCar Series resumes this weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with Ryan Hunter-Reay ahead of a surging Helio Castroneves by 21 points and Will Power by 26 points.
But could a fourth horse join the race this weekend? Scott Dixon sits in fourth position at 61 points behind Hunter-Reay and will need a bit of help in his bid to become a three-time series champion. However, Dixie’s past work at Mid-Ohio is enough proof to keep the smart ones from writing him off completely (in fact, it’s made him my lock in INDYCAR Nation Fantasy this weekend).
That said, none of these drivers have been complete slouches at this old-school road course. All of them have had good results at M-O in the past — just take a look at their past finishes on this track and you’ll see what I mean.
RYAN HUNTER-REAY
Current points leader
CART
2003: Started 2nd, finished 3rd
INDYCAR/IRL
2007: Started 10th, finished 7th
2008: Started 15, finished 10th
2009: Started 7th, finished 4th
2010: Started 4th, finished 10th
2011: Started 5th, finished 3rd
HELIO CASTRONEVES
2nd in points, 21 points behind
CART
1998: Started 20th, finished 17th
1999: Started 7th, finished 7th
2000: Started 2nd, finished 1st
2001: Started 2nd, finished 1st
INDYCAR/IRL
2007: Started 1st, finished 3rd
2008: Started 1st, finished 2nd
2009: Started 5th, finished 12th
2010: Started 6th, finished 3rd
2011: Started 15th, finished 19th
WILL POWER
3rd in points, 26 points behind
INDYCAR/IRL
2008: Started 12th, finished 4th
2010: Started 1st, finished 2nd
2011: Started 4th, finished 14th
SCOTT DIXON
4th in points, 61 points behind
CART
2001: Started 12th, finished 12th
2002: Started 15th, finished 5th
INDYCAR/IRL
2007: Started 6th, finished 1st
2008: Started 6th, finished 3rd
2009: Started 3rd, finished 1st
2010: Started 5th, finished 5th
2011: Started 1st, finished 1st
