Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio: Can anyone catch Alex Palou?

We've hit the midseason point of the IndyCar Series season and next up is the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, taking place this Sunday in Lexington. With nine races left in the season, let's preview the Mid-Ohio race and see where some of the drivers stand.

Last year:Keeping his winning ways going, Alex Palou conquers Mid-Ohio, extends IndyCar points lead

Can anyone catch Alex Palou?

Palou comes into Sunday's Honda Indy 200 race as the defending champion, having led 48 of the 80 laps last year, which was his first victory at Mid-Ohio. The Mid-Ohio win was Palou's third straight victory during the season where he compiled a season-leading five wins and two pole victories that led to his second career IndyCar Series championship (2021), which was a dominating campaign from start to finish.

This season, Palou is at it again, currently leading in the IndyCar Series standings with 285 points, 23 points clear of second-place and two-time IndyCar Series champion Will Power with 262 points. In third place, sits Scott Dixon, with 253 points. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver has a season-leading two wins -- tied with Dixon -- which occurred at the IndyCar Grand Prix in Indianapolis and just two weeks ago in Monterey, won the Laguna Seca for the second time in his career.

Both races were road course races, and Mid-Ohio will be as well. Palou has had a ton of success on road courses throughout his career, as four of his five victories in 2023 were on road courses. Keeping that in mind, Palou will likely be a solid favorite to win at Mid-Ohio for second straight year and with that, could extend his championship lead.

The field will surely be keeping their eyes on him.

Other Mid-Ohio contenders

Looking to gain ground on Palou in the IndyCar standings will be Power, Dixon and Colton Herta, who is currently in fourth place.

Dixon, Palou's Chip Ganassi teammate, should like his chances as he's won at Mid-Ohio more times in than any driver with six wins. Can't count out Power and Herta, too, as they each have a victory apiece at Mid-Ohio, with both winning in 2020, when the Honda Indy 200 conducted two separate 75-lap races.

This year's Indianapolis 500 winner for the second consecutive year and two-time Mid-Ohio winner Josef Newgarden will be one to watch as well, as he is currently in ninth place in the standings. Another win at Mid-Ohio will help him creep back into the championship race.

2022 Mid-Ohio winner Scott McLaughlin would like nothing more than to get his second win of the season and move up the standings, where he is currently eighth. Add Pato O'Ward to the bunch, as the Arrow McLaren driver aims to pick up his second win on the year and a first at Mid-Ohio.

We'll see what Sunday's race has in store.

jsimpson@gannett.com

Twitter/X:@JamesSimpsonII