The presence of double points at Laguna Seca also makes for an interesting battle for top season rookie honors.

Felix Rosenqvist (No. 10 NTT DATA Honda) of Chip Ganassi Racing has a 26-point lead over Dale Coyne Racing’s Santino Ferrucci (No. 19 Cly-Del Manufacturing Honda), but Colton Herta (No. 88 Capstone Turbine Honda) of Harding Steinbrenner Racing is only 49 points in arrears and can possibly jump to the top if he runs as strong as he did in Portland.

Much of Herta’s success has come at permanent road courses – a win at Circuit of The Americas, poles at Road America and Portland – but Rosenqvist can say much of the same. He finished second at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and at Portland while qualifying in the Firestone Fast Six at COTA and finishing sixth at Road America.

Ferrucci has repeatedly stated his goal of winning the rookie title. Rosenqvist described it as a “bonus” in a solid first INDYCAR season.

“Normally we would care more about the real championship, but we’re not fighting for (that) so the Rookie of the Year is definitely a fun bonus championship,” Rosenqvist said. “There have been a lot of good drivers — Santino and Marcus (Ericsson) and Colton – every one of them has been quick, so it’s going to be hard (to win the crown), but I think we took a good leap (at Portland).”