2018 Verizon IndyCar Series standings after Phoenix Grand Prix

IndyCar has a new championship leader after Phoenix. Here are the updated Verizon IndyCar Series standings after the Phoenix Grand Prix.

The Verizon IndyCar Series has experienced a shakeup in the championship standings after Saturday night’s 2018 Desert Diamond West Valley Casino Phoenix Grand Prix.

Josef Newgarden’s victory in the Phoenix Grand Prix also put the defending champion atop the 2018 IndyCar season standings. Previous leader Sebastien Bourdais dropped from first place to third place, after he was unable to capitalize on earning the pole position at Phoenix.

Andretti Autosport’s Alexander Rossi sits second after earning a pair of podium finishes in the first two races of the season. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Graham Rahal and Rossi’s teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay round out the current Top 5.

The more interesting stories are further down the leaderboard. There’s a three-way tie for 14th position between Team Penske’s Will Power, Ed Carpenter Racing’s Spencer Pigot and Harding Racing’s Gabby Chaves. Carlin Racing teammates Charlie Kimball and Max Chilton have the other tie in 19th.

With it being still early in the season, the IndyCar standings remain close. There is just a seven-point gap between the top three contenders, and only a one-point gap between the drivers in fourth through seventh place.

In particular, fans should keep their eye on James Hinchcliffe, who sits sixth in points but will go into next weekend’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach as the defending race winner. With even a Top 5 finish, he could easily vault himself into the Top 5 on the leaderboard. But for now, the 2018 IndyCar season is being led by the man who ruled the 2017 season—Josef Newgarden.

Below are the Verizon IndyCar Series standings following Phoenix:

1 – Josef Newgarden – 77 pts
2 – Alexander Rossi – 72 pts
3 – Sebastien Bourdais – 70 pts
4 – Graham Rahal – 63 pts
5 – Ryan Hunter-Reay – 62 pts
6 – James Hinchcliffe – 61 pts
7 – Scott Dixon – 60 pts
8 – Robert Wickens – 57 pts
9 – Tony Kanaan – 43 pts
10 – Marco Andretti – 40 pts
11 – Simon Pagenaud – 38 pts
12 – Takuma Sato – 37 pts
13 – Ed Jones – 34 pts
14 – Will Power – 31 pts
14 – Spencer Pigot – 31 pts
14 – Gabby Chaves – 31 pts
17 – Zach Veach – 28 pts
18 – Ed Carpenter – 26 pts
19 – Charlie Kimball – 23 pts
19 – Max Chilton – 23 pts
21 – Matheus Leist – 17 pts

Next: Complete Phoenix Grand Prix results

The next Verizon IndyCar Series race is the 2018 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on Sunday, April 15. For complete IndyCar coverage, follow the Motor Sports category at FanSided.