IndyCar Series Championship Standings: Marco Andretti and Helio Castroneves share top spot

There is a tie atop the IZOD IndyCar Series championship standings with Helio Castroneves and Marco Andretti sharing the top spot following the Dual in Detroit weekend doubleheader.

Two races in just as many days, combined with a caution-filled finale on Sunday, has really constricted the point standings with nine drivers within one race of Castroneves and Andretti.

As a result of his victory on Sunday, Simon Pagenaud has moved into fifth-place and just 29 points out of the top spot. Of note, both Castroneves and Andretti have yet to win this season, and have used consistency to remain at the top of the championship charts.

Both Ryan Hunter-Reay and James Hinchcliffe have won races this season but accidents this weekend in Detroit (and elsewhere) have prevented them from taking the championship lead. Hunter-Reay is third, 15 points out while Hinchcliffe is in ninth, 52 points behind.

With Mike Conway winning the first race on Saturday and finishing third on Sunday, a non-full-season driver took premium points away from the championship contenders. That only added to the consolidating of the standings, a trend that could continue if Conway continues this success in future races.

Both Will Power and Dario Franchitti remain outside of the top-10 despite strong runs out of both championship favorites out of Detroit. Power was a contender early in Sunday’s race, leading laps before an accident on lap 28 ended his day.

Franchitti finished sixth and fifth in his two races this weekend but still faces a long road back towards contention. He is now 11th in the standings, 66 points behind.

The complete championship standings can be found below: