<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1PCxFv_0qllcgQv00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1PCxFv_0qllcgQv00" width="1080" height="608" ><figcaption>IndyCar / Sean Gardner/GettyImages</figcaption></figure>The start of the 2024 IndyCar season is <a href="https://beyondtheflag.com/posts/lingering-problem-indycar-failed-fix-2024-season-01hjn8ngnddr">just under two months away</a>, with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg set to kick things off on Sunday, March 10. <a href="https://beyondtheflag.com/2023/03/02/indycar-facing-unique-problem-motorsports/">Not surprisingly</a>, sportsbooks have not yet published any championship <a href="https://beyondtheflag.com/posts/indy-500-early-2024-odds-prediction-top-5-favorites-01hhtqtgezpd">(or Indy 500)</a> betting odds for the upcoming 17-race season.Coming off of a 2023 season in which he became the first five-win champion since 2016, the first driver to wrap up a title before the season finale since 2007 (2005 excluding Champ Car), and the first driver to post a worst finish of eighth place across a 17-race season since 1922, Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex Palou will undoubtedly be the favorite to win the 2024 title.Since joining Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021, the only season in which he hasn't won the title is 2022, when his season was largely characterized by the legal battles over his driving services for the 2023 season as opposed to his actual on-track performance. He still managed arguably the most dominant win of the modern era in the season finale at Laguna Seca, setting the stage for his dominant 2023 campaign. But no driver has won back-to-back titles since Dario Franchitti -- also behind the wheel of the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda -- won three in a row from 2009 to 2011. Can Palou end that trend?Team Penske's Josef Newgarden won four races, including the Indy 500, last year, but he had to settle for fifth place in the championship standings, matching his worst effort since joining Roger Penske's team in 2017. It marked <a href="https://beyondtheflag.com/2023/07/22/indycar-true-test-indy-500-hangover/">13 years in a row of the Indy 500 winner coming up shy</a> in the championship battle. Franchitti is also the most recent driver who pulled off both in the same year.Newgarden won a series-high five races in 2022, giving him a series-high nine since the 2022 season began, but he did not win the title.Reigning champion Will Power went winless in 2023 for the first time since 2006, illustrating just how deep the current IndyCar field is. Regular race winners Pato O'Ward of Arrow McLaren and Colton Herta of Andretti Global were also kept out of victory lane. Kyle Kirkwood was the series' only new winner, and he won twice in his first year with Andretti Global.<h2>How will the opening IndyCar championship odds look for 2024?</h2>FanDuel Sportsbook is <a href="https://bit.ly/BeyondtheFlag-Web-FanDuel">offering fans an instant $150</a> just for placing a $5 bet on any sport. Sign up today and don't miss your chance to start the 2024 IndyCar season off on a high note!NOTE: Only the 24 confirmed full-time drivers are listed.Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing: +400Josef Newgarden, Team Penske: +500Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing: +600Pato O'Ward, Arrow McLaren: +700Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske: +800Colton Herta, Andretti Global: +1000Will Power, Team Penske: +1200Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global: +1400Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global: +1600Alexander Rossi, Arrow McLaren: +1800David Malukas, Arrow McLaren: +2000Christian Lundgaard, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: +2000Linus Lundqvist (R), Chip Ganassi Racing: +3000Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing, +4000Marcus Armstrong, Chip Ganassi Racing: +4000Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: +4000Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing: +5000Kyffin Simpson (R), Chip Ganassi Racing: +7500Pietro Fittipaldi, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: +7500Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Enterprises: +10000Tom Blomqvist (R), Meyer Shank Racing: +10000Romain Grosjean, Juncos Hollinger Racing: +20000Agustin Canapino, Juncos Hollinger Racing: +20000Sting Ray Robb, A.J. Foyt Enterprises: +20000<blockquote>dark. Next. Indy 500 development puts everybody at risk in 2024. Indy 500 development puts everybody at risk in 2024</blockquote>Dale Coyne Racing have <a href="https://beyondtheflag.com/posts/indycar-team-dale-coyne-racing-without-confirmed-drivers-2024-01hjz0g4wjzx">yet to confirm any drivers</a> for their two cars, and they are the only team with any remaining vacancies. However, it is highly unlikely that their driver decisions will impact who this year's championship favorites are.<blockquote>feed</blockquote></div></body>

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IndyCar: Who is the 2024 championship favorite? Way-too-early odds predictions

The start of the 2024 IndyCar season is just under two months away, with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg set to kick things off on Sunday, March 10. Not surprisingly, sportsbooks have not yet published any championship (or Indy 500) betting odds for the upcoming 17-race season. Coming...