Editor’s Note: Power Rankings is a feature after every NTT INDYCAR SERIES race in which INDYCAR.com staff writer Eric Smith ranks the top-10 current drivers in the series based on objective recent and season-long performance statistics and the subjective “eye test” of what he sees during race weekends.

Christian Rasmussen earned his first career NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory in Sunday’s Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250, holding off 2025 series champion Alex Palou in a thrilling finish. Teammate Alexander Rossi placed fourth as Ed Carpenter Racing put two drivers in the top five at the finish for the first time in team history.

Despite the loss, Palou retains the No. 1 spot in Power Rankings following the 16th race of the 17-race season.

Here’s how the rest of Power Rankings shape up heading into the final race of the season at Nashville Superspeedway (2 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network):

Colton Herta

↓10. Colton Herta (No. 26 Gainbridge Honda; Last Rank: 5)

Herta (photo, above) had a quiet weekend but maintained consistency with his fourth straight 11th-place finish. He earned the Jostens Hard Charger award after climbing from the 24th starting position.

↑9. David Malukas (No. 4 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet; Last Rank: NR)

Malukas returns to the Power Rankings after missing out post-Portland. He impressed with a second-place start at Milwaukee but dropped to 18th and a lap down following a slow second pit stop due to a malfunctioning air gun. Malukas rallied to finish eighth, his third top-10 in the last five races.

Scott Dixon

↔8. Scott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda; Last Rank: 8)

Dixon (photo, above) logged his 10th straight top-11 finish with a ninth-place result at Milwaukee. The only drawbacks are he has not led a lap in the last six races and is averaging a 9.8 qualifying position in that span.

↓7. Marcus Armstrong (No. 66 St. Thomas University Honda; Last Rank: 6)

Armstrong extended his strong season with a 10th-place finish in Milwaukee, his 11th of the year and ninth in the last 10 races.

↑6. Alexander Rossi (No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet; Last Rank: NR)

Rossi (top photo, left) makes his first Power Rankings appearance since being ranked ninth after Barber in May and earned his best ranking in the last 21 races. After going without a top-five finish in the first 14 events, he’s now posted two in a row after placing fifth at Portland and fourth in Milwaukee.

↑5. Christian Rasmussen (No. 21 ECR Splenda Stevia Chevrolet; Last Rank: NR)

Rasmussen (top photo, right) became the 302nd driver to win an NTT INDYCAR SERIES race and the first Ed Carpenter Racing winner since Rinus VeeKay in the Sonsio Grand Prix in May 2021. With four top-10 finishes in his last six races, he’s earned a career-best ranking. Despite having the third-most oval points this season, his 20th-place rank on road and street circuits has held him back.

Scott McLaughlin

↑4. Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 Sonsio Vehicle Protection Chevrolet; Last Rank: 9)

McLaughlin (photo, above) jumps back into the top five for the first time since ranking third after the Sonsio Grand Prix on May 10. He’s on a roll with three consecutive top-10 finishes, improving each week from 10th at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, to seventh at Portland and third at Milwaukee.

↓3. Christian Lundgaard (No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet; Last Rank: 2)

Lundgaard drops one spot despite finishing sixth in Milwaukee, marking his third top-seven finish in five oval starts this season. He’s logged four top-six finishes in his last five races, including three consecutively. He and Armstrong are tied for the fourth-most top-10 finishes this season.

Pato O'Ward

↑2. Pato O’Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet; Last Rank: 4)

O’Ward (photo, above) rebounded from a mechanical failure at Portland with his 10th top-five finish of the season – second most in the series this season. He has recorded six top-five finishes in the last seven races and has clinched a second-place points finish.

↔1. Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda; Last Rank: 1)

Palou led 199 of 250 laps from the pole but finished second at Milwaukee. Still, he boasts 13 top-five finishes and 14 top-10s in 16 starts, including seven top-five finishes in the last eight races.