Parity at the top of the leaderboard after three races

Winning a race in the Verizon IndyCar Series has never been more difficult. That’s the biggest takeaway from the first three events of the 2018 campaign, said a man with 32 career victories on his résumé.

“Right now is the most competitive, talented group of drivers the series has seen,” said Will Power, who sits ninth all time in Indy car triumphs. “When you look at how (Alexander) Rossi has come on and the rookies who are here this year, guys like (Robert) Wickens and so on, it just gets harder. It gets harder and harder, and the common body kit I think was a really, really good idea. … To win and be on the pole these days, you’ve just got to get it so right.”

Three different teams have invaded victory lane, as no one seems to own an edge. That being the case, it wouldn’t be the least bit surprising to find another new team in the winner’s circle come Sunday’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama (3:30 ET, NBCSN), though that’s not how I see things unfolding. Here is what I think:

The standings foretell a fascinating year. You want competitive balance? After three races, six different teams occupy the top six on the leaderboard: Andretti Autosport (Rossi), Team Penske (Josef Newgarden), Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (Graham Rahal), Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan (Sebastien Bourdais), Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (James Hinchcliffe) and Chip Ganassi Racing (Scott Dixon).

“You have talent across the entire board,” Rossi said. “I think it creates a very good show for the fans, and … it demands perfection and it demands us to be on top of our game.”

Rossi keeps clicking on all cylinders. It’s hard to imagine a better start to the 2018 campaign for the budding superstar. Three races and three podiums, and twice (Phoenix, Long Beach) he’s easily been the fastest man on the track. Heading into Barber, he’s a strong bet to make it 4-for-4 in podium finishes. Not only do driver and team looked locked in, but Rossi has shown a recent penchant for road and street courses.

“He’s definitely what I’d call the standout of the field right now in every respect,” Power said. “I mean, even when we saw him at Phoenix on the oval, as well.”

Simon Pagenaud’s nightmare needs to end. For as good as Rossi’s start has been, that’s how bad it’s been for the 2016 champion. A slip in pit lane cost him a top-five finish or better at Phoenix before Rahal’s first-lap blunder cost him the whole race at Long Beach. Immediately afterward, Rahal apologized to Pagenaud for the mistake, but it was likely of little solace to Pagenaud, whose IndyCar-leading streak of races completed came to an end at 22.

Fortunately for Pagenaud, he has reason for optimism heading to Alabama. Not only is he a former race winner there, but Penske looked strong in the mid-March open test. Though the test was abbreviated because of weather, Penske teammate Newgarden paced the field, while Power and Helio Castroneves (preparing for his Indy return) ran second and third. Pagenaud was ninth, but considering his car has had pace so far this season, he has every reason to expect a bounce-back this weekend.

Power wins the Grand Prix of Barber. The Penske superstar checks all the boxes as a likely victor. He’s won at Barber twice (2011, 2012); he’d be a threetime winner if not for the flat tire; he’s sat on the pole four times (2010, 2011,

2014, 2017); he was quick at the March open test; and he’s been fast all season.

While Penske already has a victory this year (Newgarden, Phoenix), Power would be the fourth different winner, which seems in keeping with how the

2018 season is shaking out.