The IndyCar season is now beyond the midway point and the race for top spot is really beginning to heat up. It seems to be the year of the young drivers, with Alex Palou at the top and Pato O’Ward in second. With 7 races still to come, there is no guarantee that either of those drivers will still be there once the season is all said and done, especially with some former champions sitting just off the pace. The funny thing heading to the Hindy Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio this weekend is that the current leader in the driver standings is not up among the four favorites to win. Let’s take a quick look at who is actually filling those spots so you can get ready to make your bets against their IndyCar odds.
2021 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio | IndyCar Betting Analysis
Josef Newgarden (+350)
It has not been the best year for Newgarden to this point, as he is still looking for his first win of the season. That is all the more surprising when you consider that he has been consistently good for 3 or 4 wins per season for the last few years. With that in mind, you do get the sense that he is overdue for a win, which is perhaps why he is in as the favorite this weekend. While he doesn’t have a win in 2021, Newgarden has had some close calls, landing a trio of 2nd place finishes. Newgarden had a win at Mid-Ohio in 2017, plus he finished 2nd at that track last season. This might just be the week to play him.
Scott Dixon (+500)
Last season, Dixon got off to a flying start, winning the first 3 races of the season and then holding on to win another world championship. He got off to a very solid start this season, but he is going to have to come from behind if he is to repeat as champion in 2021. Dixon only has 1 win on the season, with that one coming back in the third race of the year. He has cooled off dramatically since then and has not even managed a podium finish in his last 6 races. He did get 4th last time out, so perhaps he is ready to have a good run this weekend. He won at Mid-Ohio in 2019, but he had a pair of 10th place finished at that track last season.
Will Power (+600)
Power won the world championship back in 2014 and has since never finished worse than 5th overall. He is going to be hard pushed to keep that run going this season, as he is way down in 12th and seemingly out of the running, even with 7 races still to come. The season actually started quite well, with Power finishing 2nd in Alabama, but other than a 3rd place finish last week, he has not been close to winning since. Mid-Ohio is a track that he seems to like, though, as he won there last season, so he might well be one to watch at a good price.
Colton Herta (+600)
If you had to use one word to describe Herta’s season to this point, it would be inconsistent. He has a win and a trio of top 5 finishes on top of that, but his performances in between those good ones are what have him languishing down in 9th in the driver standings. In the second race at Mid-Ohio last season, Herta picked up the win, so maybe worth a look this weekend.
