Marcus Ericsson Scott Dixon Will Power Josef Newgarden Scott McLaughlin

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 PowerWILL 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 NewgardenJOSEF 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 DixonSCOTT 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 EricssonMARCUS 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 McLaughlinSCOTT 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.