INDYCARNATION

Race Preview

Barber Motosports Park in Birmingham, Ala., plays host to the IZOD IndyCar Series for the first time in 2010.
In the last five seasons, three drivers went on to win the series championship after winning an inaugural event at a track. In 2005, Dan Wheldon won the first race at St. Petersburg. In 2006, Dario Franchitti won the first race at Iowa and Scott Dixon won the first race at Edmonton in 2008. Franchitti won both inaugural events in 2009 – Long Beach and Toronto – on his way to capturing the championship.
The event at Barber is the third round of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series schedule. In 14 seasons, only two drivers have won the third race of the year and gone on to win the championship. They are: Dan Wheldon (2005, St. Petersburg); Sam Hornish Jr. (2002, California). The average finish in the third race of the season of drivers who went on to win the championship is 8.5.