FAST FACT During the tire building process, heat and pressure are applied in a mold to cure the tire’s rubber components, in a process known as vulcanizing — a process named after the Roman god of fire, Vulcan. In Birmingham, a 56- foot statue of Vulcan, the world’s largest cast iron statue, overlooks downtown from Red Mountain.
Ryan Hunter-Reay broke Team Penske’s win streak at Barber Motorsports Park with his win in the 2013 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. Can the Andretti Autosport driver repeat at Barber and join Will Power as the race’s only multiple winner? Shawn Gritzmacher/IMS Photo
WHAT TO WATCH FOR THIS WEEKEND: CAN JPM PICK UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF?: Juan Pablo Montoya is still adapting to his return to Indy car racing, but a fourth-place finish at the streets of Long Beach shows the former champion doesn’t have that much more rust to shake off. Montoya, the 2000 Indianapolis 500 winner, claimed his first NASCAR pole at Talladega. Can he achieve another Alabama milestone and get back to winner’s circle this weekend?
CONWAY SEEKS BACK-TO-BACK WINS: Mike Conway was a surprise winner at Long Beach, inheriting the lead with three laps remaining and returning Ed Carpenter Racing to the winner’s circle. Now, the Englishman looks for another milestone – helping the team win its first entrant championship. Can Conway win again and help the team stay near the top of the standings?
DIXON STARTS STRONG IN TITLE DEFENSE: Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon has shown he’s a contender to repeat as Verizon IndyCar Series champion. The New Zealand native has finished second in the previous four races at Barber and came within a few laps of scoring a win at Long Beach. Can Dixon continue his strong start to 2014 and finally claim his first victory at Barber?
POWER LOOKS TO KEEP IT HOT: With back-to-back top-two finishes to start the 2014 season, Team Penske’s Will Power leads the Verizon IndyCar Series point standings as the series heads to Barber Motorsports Park. Power has won the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama twice. Can he continue his strong start to the 2014 season by scoring another win at Barber? 2014 VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES POINT STANDINGS (TOP 5 AFTER 2 OF 18 EVENTS)
1. WILL POWER Team Penske 93
2. MIKE CONWAY Ed Carpenter Racing -27
3. SIMON PAGENAUD Schmidt Peterson Hamilton Motorsports -33
4. HELIO CASTRONEVES Team Penske -38
5. RYAN HUNTER-REAY Andretti Autosport -39
© 2014 Indy Racing League, LLC (dba INDYCAR). All Rights Reserved. © 2014 Indy Racing League, LLC (dba INDYCAR). All Rights Reserved. © 2014 Indy Racing League, LLC (dba INDYCAR). All Rights Reserved. © 2014 Indy Racing League, LLC (dba INDYCAR). All Rights Reserved.