A quick look at the five drivers racing for the Astor Challenge Cup as NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion in the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey on Sunday, Sept. 11 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
Series leader Will Power is 20 points ahead of Team Penske teammate Josef Newgarden and Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing. Marcus Ericsson of CGR is fourth, 39 points behind, while Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin is fifth, 41 points back.
SEE: Event Preview | How Title Contenders Got Here
This is the 17th consecutive season in which the championship has come down to the final race of the season, and it’s the first time since 2003 that five drivers are contending for the Astor Challenge Cup in a season finale without double points.
NBC’s live coverage starts at 2:40 p.m. ET, with the INDYCAR Radio Network live on the air at 3 p.m.
WILL POWER (Leader)
Team: Team Penske
Car: No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet
Age: 41
Hometown: Toowoomba, Australia
Residence: Charlotte, North Carolina
2022 Wins: 1 (Belle Isle)
2022 Podiums: 8
2022 Top 10s: 12
2022 Laps Led: 318
2022 NTT P1 Awards: 4
2022 Average Start: 8.1
2022 Average Finish: 6.1
Previous Best Season Finish: First (2014)
Career Wins: 41
Career Poles: 67
INDYCAR SERIES Career Debut: 2005
JOSEF NEWGARDEN (Second, -20*)
Team: Team Penske
Car: No. 2 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet
Age: 31
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Residence: Nashville, Tennessee
2022 Wins: 5 (Texas, Long Beach, Road America, Iowa-1, World Wide Technology Raceway)
2022 Podiums: 5
2022 Top 10s: 11
2022 Laps Led: 522
2022 NTT P1 Awards: 1
2022 Average Start: 5.5
2022 Average Finish: 8.6
Previous Best Season Finish: First (2017, 2019)
Career Wins: 25
Career Poles: 16
INDYCAR SERIES Career Debut: 2012
SCOTT DIXON (Third, -20)
Team: Chip Ganassi Racing
Car: No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Age: 42
Hometown: Auckland, New Zealand
Residence: Indianapolis
2022 Wins: 2 (Toronto, Nashville)
2022 Podiums: 4
2022 Top 10s: 15
2022 Laps Led: 186
2022 NTT P1 Awards: 1
2022 Average Start: 10.9
2022 Average Finish: 6.4
Previous Best Season Finish: First (2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020)
Career Wins: 53
Career Poles: 28
INDYCAR SERIES Career Debut: 2001
MARCUS ERICSSON (Fourth, -39)
Team: Chip Ganassi Racing
Car: No. 8 Huski Chocolate Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Age: 32
Hometown: Kumla, Sweden
Residence: Indianapolis
2022 Wins: 1 (Indianapolis 500)
2022 Podiums: 3
2022 Top 10s: 11
2022 Laps Led: 37
2022 NTT P1 Awards: 0 (Best start second, World Wide Technology Raceway)
2022 Average Start: 11.8
2022 Average Finish: 8.0
Previous Best Season Finish: Sixth (2021)
Career Wins: 3
Career Poles: 0
INDYCAR SERIES Career Debut: 2019
SCOTT McLAUGHLIN (Fifth, -41)
Team: Team Penske
Car: No. 3 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet
Age: 29
Hometown: Christchurch, New Zealand
Residence: Charlotte, North Carolina
2022 Wins: 3 (St. Petersburg, Mid-Ohio, Portland)
2022 Podiums: 7
2022 Top 10s: 11
2022 Laps Led: 433
2022 NTT P1 Awards: 3
2022 Average Start: 6.9
2022 Average Finish: 8.9
Previous Best Season Finish: 14th (2021)
Career Wins: 3
Career Poles: 3
INDYCAR SERIES Career Debut: 2020
*- Newgarden owns tiebreaker due to more victories this season.