With Scott Dixon having clawed his way up to third it was assumed by some – including Ganassi’s six-time champion – that Team Penske would go against its openly stated convention of letting its drivers race, and ask long-time leader McLaughlin to move aside for the closely following Power, championship leader, to maximize his points haul.
However, that call did not come, and McLaughlin went on to score his third win of the year, while Power took his eighth podium finish. He heads to Laguna Seca with a 20-point lead over teammate Josef Newgarden and Dixon, which means should either of those pursuers score maximum points – win, pole, most laps led – Power must finish third to take the title. Had McLaughlin ceded victory to Power, the latter’s points margin would now be 30 and he would need only to finish eighth to claim his second championship.
