We’re to the final quarter of the NTT IndyCar Series season. Four races remain before we crown a champion next month at Laguna Seca. Currently, we have four drivers are have the most realistic chances of hoisting the Astor Cup championship trophy following the season finale. All four are more than capable of going on a run here until the end to accomplish that feat – after all, three of the four are past champions including them having combined to win the last four titles.

Currently, Josef Newgarden leads the points championship by just 16 points over Alexander Rossi. Simon Pagenaud (-47) and Scott Dixon (-62) are within striking distance.

While being consistent is one thing, these four know that in order to win this year’s championship, you’re going to have to control your own destiny and win some races still too.

“I’m really excited to get back to Pocono,” said defending ABC Supply 500 race winner Alexander Rossi. “It’s one of my favorite tracks to go back to each year – and obviously, we had a good race there last year. We’re getting into a critical point of the championship and we need to win races. Pocono is a great place for us to hopefully do that. Hopefully, we can leave the weekend leading the championship.”

Rossi, has finished second in each of the two superspeedway races run in 2019 and led 180 of 200 laps at Pocono last year. His rivals have taken notice what he can do in his No. 27 Honda this weekend.

For Simon Pagenaud, he’s excited to get back racing. He won the Indy 500 earlier this year and considers himself a pretty good superspeedway racer now.

“I’m very excited to be back competing,” Pagenaud said after having the last two weeks off. “I love this time of the year because ‘it’s crunch time’ so it’s time to go for it with four races remaining.”

The last three times the series had an extended break between races, Pagenaud won the races following. The series had a month between Long Beach and the INDYCAR Grand Prix, Pagenaud won. The series had a week off to qualify before racing the Indy 500 – Pagenaud won. The series had two weeks off between Road America and Toronto – Pagenaud won.

With having a good car on ovals, Pagenaud can win again this weekend.

So can Scott Dixon. He’s won this race in 2013 and heads to Pocono coming off of a win in the last race at Mid-Ohio. The defending series champion has three straight top two finishes on the season, but knows that in order to really make the gap up on the drivers in front, he has to take more chances in order to get to victory lane.

“It’s a long race and it’s now time to roll the dice and take chances,” Dixon said. “Race wins are all that matter at this stage in the season if you want to have a shot at defending this championship title. I hope we come ready to race in the PNC Bank car and fight for the win.”

To add to this, just look at the last 10 races on the season – all 10 of them saw one of these four drivers win.

Yes, Newgarden, Rossi, Pagenaud and Dixon have combined to win every Indy Car race since Long Beach. That’s why they each know that they have to win and it all starts this on Sunday at the Pocono Raceway.