Will Power won the IndyCar championship in a five-driver shootout at the season finale at Laguna Seca, triggering a busy week for The Race IndyCar Podcast.

Later this week Power is scheduled to appear as a special guest on the show, so co-hosts JR Hildebrand and Jack Benyon used this episode to break down the events of the championship decider itself.

There's a look at the mental strength of Power and how his pole position pointed to why he deserved the championship, and a look at Josef Newgarden's drive through the field and why it wasn't quite enough amid the context of his rollercoaster season.

Outgoing champion Alex Palou's dominating victory (his first of the season) is dissected against the backdrop that he could be set for a dramatic U-turn, with suggestions he could stay at Ganassi Racing next season picking up pace.

And finally there's time to discuss a pair of outstanding rookie performances, with Jack and JR suitably impressed by a superb second in qualifying for Callum Ilott and his one-car Juncos Hollinger team, as well as Christian Lundgaard sealing rookie of the year honours for a buoyant Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team.

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