Each individual sport has taken their own approach to returning to action in the midst of a global pandemic. In most cases, fans are still absent, but other than that, things are different wherever you look. Some sports played in a bubble, while others traveled in a shortened season. In IndyCar, they have tried to make this season as normal as possible by playing catchup to squeeze in races. This has meant running doubleheader events, which we will have again this weekend in Mid-Ohio. Two races means plenty of betting opportunities, but where should your money go? Let’s take a closer look at the top 4 drivers in the standings right now, along with their IndyCar odds for the first race.
Indycar Betting Preview for Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio
Scott Dixon (+220) – Dixon is at the top of the standings and has a close to 100-point lead, so he is more than likely going to be the champion this year. He made it very tough for every other driver by bolting out of the gate and winning the opening 3 races of the season. He has only had 1 more win since then, with that one coming in one of the doubleheader races last weekend. In his last 4 races, he has not finished worse than 5th, which is why catching him at the top is going to be impossible. Dixon won at Mid-Ohio last season, so he looks to be a good pick to win at least one race this weekend.
Josef Newgarden (+600) – Sitting in second in the driver standings, it must have been frustrating for Newgarden to see Dixon win the first race last weekend after finishing 12th. He dusted himself off rather quickly, though, and came out and won race 2, his second victory of the season. He is another one that should be in among the leaders this weekend, as he has a pair of top 5 finishes in his last 2 races at Mid-Ohio, including a win back un 2017. I expect him to be on the podium at least once this weekend.
Pato O’Ward (+1600) – The Mexican driver has yet to take a checkered flag this season, but he has done enough to get himself into 3rd in the driver standings. It’s a huge achievement for the 21-year old which is enjoying his first full season in IndyCar. He has had 3 podium finishes this season but it was last weekend that may well have been the sign of his official arrival in Indy. He had a second and a third in the two races last weekend, which could help him make a push for 2nd in the standings over the final few weeks. This will be his first start at Mid-Ohio.
Takuma Sato (+3300) – Sato comes into this weekend with 6 career wins under his belt, 2 of which came at the Indianapolis 500. He won there this season, picking up his only victory on the year, but that and a podium finish last weekend, is enough to have him sitting in 4th in the driver standings. Sato had a couple of wins last season, so he might yet be good for one more. This track has not been kind to him, though, so that other win might not come this weekend.
