INDYCAR: Driver Ratings for 2023 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, Won by Alex Palou

Crash INDYCAR journalist Chad Smith goes through the field to hand out driver ratings for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio.
Alex Palou, Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing at Mid-Ohio
Alex Palou, Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing at Mid-Ohio

Alex Palou: 10

The season Palou i🥃s having is nearing Max Verstappen levels.

Scott Dixon: 9

Another rꦡunner-up finish f🥃or Dixon, who has won six times at this track.

Will Power: 9

Considering Power still has not started inside the 🦩top-six this season, a podium result was about as good 🧸as it could get.

Christian Lundgaard: 9

A strong qualifying effort and solid r🃏ace pace has Lundgaard looking like the future for RLL Racing.

Scott McLaughlin: 8

A sol🤡id top-five finish for the driver who won here a year ago.

David Malukas: 8

After finishing 💜19th or worse in the last six races, it was a much-needed result for Malukas.

Graham Rahal: 6

Still a good ꦯfinish, but the mi🏅stake during a pit stop might have taken away a monster win.

Pato O'Ward: 9

Using strateg🥀y, O'Ward and the team were able to gain 17 positions in the race.

Marcus Armstrong: 7

Another impressive drﷺive by the rookie, who is the real deal.

Alexander Rossi: 6

Considering his past performances at Mid-Ohio, expectations were 𒉰much higher for Rossi this weekend.

Colton Herta: 4

For the second week in a row, Herta started on pole, dominated the first h༒alf of the race, only to see it f🦩ly away with a late-race mistake.

Josef Newgarden: 5

It was a strange weekendℱ for Nꦉewgarden, who was invisible for nearly all of it.

Romain Grosjean: 6

The good news was he was abᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚle to finish a race, but it was another one outside of the top-12.

Devlin DeFrancesco: 6

He continues to show improvement but he remains 🍸the weakest link in the four-driver lineup at Andretti.

Rinus VeeKay: 4

Another so-so drive from VeeKay, who des✤perately n🎶eeds to show something before the end of the season.

Callum Ilott: 5

The sour season continues for Ilott and the Juncos Hollinger Ra๊cing team.

Kyle Kirkwood: 8

The Andretti ace was ready to pounce at the front of the field but spun after co꧂ntact with Palou♓.

Jack Harvey: 3

Anoth🐷er poor showing for Harvey, who could be out of a ride before the end of the season.

Ryan Hunter-Reay: 4

Hunter-Reay was back in the car. That's about it.

Conor Daly: 4

Once again Conor found himself in a situation where he could show his value. Unfortunately, a 20th place finish wasn't w🧸hat he was looking for but given how bad this team has struggled, and the fact that he started last, Daly should feel good about his performance.

Helio Castroneves: 3

The final full-time season for Castroneves is winding 🅷down, without anything to smile about.

Sting Ray Robb: 3

The rookie kept it cleജan today,🌄 which is an improvement.

Agustin Canapino: 2

Not his best showing, but the team is clearly a step𓆉 (or two) beౠhind right now.

Santino Ferrucci: 2

A rough day for AJ Foyt Racing.

Felix Rosenqvist: 4

A solid qualifying effort went down the drain on the opening lap when he was t𓆉aken out by fellow Swede Marcus Ericsson.

Benjamin Pedersen: 1

His poor performance was overshadowed by his ruth✱less blocking on track, with several angry drivers ready to have a 💎discussion with him.

Marcus Ericsson: 2

His mistake was a costly one, likely taking h﷽im out of the championship picture.

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