USA TODAY US Edition

Pagenaud or Power?

Who will win the Verizon IndyCar Series title Sunday at Sonoma Raceway? The cases for both contenders,

- Curt Cavin @curtcavin USA TODAY Sports Cavin writes for The Indianapol­is Star, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Simon Pagenaud’s excellence this Verizon IndyCar Series season can be defined by two words: one mistake.

If not for that or a few things out of Pagenaud’s control, there wouldn’t be an opportunit­y for Team Penske teammate Will Power to overtake him for the championsh­ip trophy that will be awarded this weekend at Sonoma Raceway.

Arguably, there have been more impressive seasons in U.S. open-wheel history; A.J. Foyt’s 10 wins in 13 races in 1964 leads the pack. But there aren’t many better examples of a driver doing everything within his power to secure a title.

Pagenaud’s lone error occurred last month at Pocono Raceway. He was little more than a lap beyond a pit stop, which means his car was heavy with fuel. He hit the bump in Turn 1, bottomed out, skated wide and struck the outside wall. On such a track, any wall contact is significan­t, and the Frenchman’s day was done.

Other than that, the blame for poor results goes elsewhere.

Souring engines cost Pagenaud big in the double-points-paying Indianapol­is 500 (he finished 19th) and in the series’ return to Road America (he was second with six laps to go but faded to 13th). There were two in- stances where Pagenaud got shuffled out of the lead group when the caution came out before he’d pitted, putting him deep in the pack.

Pagenaud’s finishes in the races not mentioned in the previous paragraph: Second, second, first, first, first, second, fourth, first, fourth and seventh. That’s an average of 2.5, and he can block Power’s path to the title Sunday by finishing fourth or better.

When allowed to race, Pagenaud has, and the best example of that was July 31 at the Mid- Ohio Sports Car Course. On the final restart, Pagenaud had Power directly in front of him, but Pagenaud didn’t settle.

When Power slightly bobbled, Pagenaud pounced even as it meant going sideby-side with his rival through a couple of corners. They finished first and second, a 20-point swing in what’s currently a 43point spread.

“Simon’s done a really good job of being consistent but at the same time being aggressive,” Team Penske President Tim Cindric said. “He’s balanced (those) really well, kind of what you’d expect from a guy who’s trying to win a championsh­ip.”

Power has won five of the past six poles at Sonoma and has won three races since 2010. He could score the maximum number of points and probably will need every one of them, because Pagenaud isn’t likely to make a mistake. For him, one is enough.

 ?? AARON DOSTER, USA TODAY SPORTS ?? Simon Pagenaud has been the picture of consistenc­y this season.
AARON DOSTER, USA TODAY SPORTS Simon Pagenaud has been the picture of consistenc­y this season.

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