Championship Standings after 3 races with comments

Championship Standings after 3 races with comments

The IZOD IndyCar Series concluded their third race of the 2011 season with their third consecutive new race winner, in the Andretti Autosports, Mike Conway. Ryan Briscoe finished second and Dario Franchitti rounded out the podium. Surprising rookie James Hinchcliffe finished 4th and fellow Canadian Alex Tagliani rounded out the top five. IndyCar Garage gives you the updated point standings through three rounds and brief comments for each racer. (spots gained or lost)

1. Dario Franchitti +1

Comment: three consecutive podiums have the reigning champ in prime form.

2. Will Power -1

Comment: If Helio doesn’t take Power out, he is on the podium again at Long Beach

3. Tony Kanaan

Comment: Still maintaining as he chases his second championship, first since 2004

4. Oriol Servia +2

Comment: Proving that he is a very good driver and that Newman/Haas is still good

5. Mike Conway +19

Comment: First career win bumped him 19 spots in the Championship and highest AA driver

6. Alex Tagliani +3

Comment: Quietly having a strong start with SSM, and don’t forget he started P2 at Brazil last

year

7. Scott Dixon – 3

Comment: Big let down at Long Beach after strong Barber race

8. Ryan Briscoe +17

Comment: Briscoe was do or die for Long Beach and he delivered, huge race for him

9. Simona de Silvestro - 4

Comment: It will be interesting to see how she bounces back from her first bad race of 2011

10. Vitor Meira

Comment: Vitor hanging in the top ten and his best finish of 2010 (Brazil) is up next

11. Danica Patrick +5

Comment: If Danica can survive one more twisty, and be in the top 10 heading into the ovals, she could be a threat to crack the top five

12. Raphael Matos

Comment: Solid start and consider this, he sits higher in the points than fellow Brazilin Helio

13. Takuma Sato -5

Comment: The fifth place finish at St. Pete feels like forever ago,

14. Helio Castroneves -3

Comment: The biggest disappointment so far of the Penske drivers, he needs Indy to be here

15. Marco Andretti -8

Comment: Another driver that suffered a big let down and a big F Bomb on T.V.

16. JR Hildebrand -3

Comment: His ROY of the lead is only 5 points on Hinch, started last at Long Beach

17. James Hinchcliffe +10

Comment: Young Canadian finished a career best 4th at Long Beach

18. Justin Wilson -3

Comment: Qualified strong (Fast 6), but spun during the race, needs a strong race at Brazil

19. Charlie Kimball -5

Comment: Ganassi Rookie struggled at Long Beach

20. Sebastian Saavedra -2

Comment: Another rookie that is still trying to find his way

21. Graham Rahal -1

Comment: 21st in the standings after three races is not how Graham envisioned his season after three races

22. Ryan Hunter-Reay -5

Comment: Had the car to win at Long Beach, but technical issues forced a DNF

23. James Jakes -4

Comment: Still learning the ropes of INDYCAR

24. Sebastien Bourdais -2

Comment: Charging through the field when he got tangled with Marco

25. E.J. Viso -2

Comment: Wrecked car after wrecked car

26. Ana Beatriz

Comment: Might have rushed her comeback , two important races for her are Brazil and Indy

27. Simon Pagenaud -6 (Didn’t race at Long Beach)

Comment: His next race appears to be Indy

28. Paul Tracy

Comment: Not much to report in Tracy’s first race of 2011