IndyCar Preview : 2011 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama

Sunday, April 10th, 2011
The Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama is race number two in the 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series schedule. Having raced just two weeks prior on the various surfaces of the St. Petersburg street course, the smooth 16-turn 2.3 mile perminant road course at Barber Motorsports Park will be a welcomed site for the IndyCar Series drivers. 2010 race winner Helio Castroneves continues to be quick at this track, proving the point by setting the fastest pace at the IZOD IndyCar Series Open Test held at the Barber Motorsports Park on March 15th. Castroneves led a competitive field of 24 cars, 12 of which followed closely within 1 second of Castroneves' best lap of 1:11.9434.

Barber Motorsports Park History
The 2011 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama marks the second year that the IZOD IndyCar Series has raced at the Barber Motorsports Park, located in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1988, George Barber opened The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, which houses more than 900 vintage and modern racing cars and motorcycles. In 2003, the track was added to the complex and has been growing in popularity among racing enthusiasts, having hosted Grand-Am, AMA Superbike, and Vintage Racing Series events in it's park like setting. The IZOD IndyCar Series has plans to race at Barber through the 2012 season.

Power to the pole
Will Power is sure to provide stiff competition for his Penske teammate Helio Castroneves. Power holds the track record of 1:10.1060, set in 2009. This pace is almost 2 seconds faster than Castroneves' time at the open test. Power is also known for finding speed when he needs it most. Look for Power to have just enough speed to make the Fast Six in qualifying, followed by an ultra quick run for the pole. Power beat Castroneves to the pole by half a second, in 2010.

Mike Conway returns
Mike Conway is probably best known for his last lap 2010 Indy 500 crash, where his Dreyer & Reinbold Racing car was shreaded by the turn four fence, after being ramped into the air by the slow fuel saving car of Ryan Hunter-Reay. Conway was out for the remainder of the 2010 season, recovering from a broken back and broken left leg. Conway is now back, teamed with Hunter-Reay at Andretti Auto Sport, and should have better equipment. Conway out paced Castroneves to take second in qualifying at Barber in 2010, followed by a 9th place finish in the race. If Andretti Auto Sport is back to it's winning ways and Conway is back to 100% strength, look for the Englishman to have a great day in Alabama.

Broadcast Schedule
3:00PM EST : Sunday, April 10th
on VERSUS