Looking at first four races heading to Indy

One-quarter of the IZOD IndyCar Series season is in the books – all on road and street circuits -- and Team Penske's Will Power has staked his claim to the IZOD IndyCar Series championship.

Four of the next five races are on ovals, starting with the Indianapolis 500.

A look at some statistics & notes with the new Dallara chassis and engine package from three manufacturers vs. 2011:

Itaipava São Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle
2.536-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit
Will Power, winner

Of note: Unlike the wet track in 2011, the race April 29 was run on dry concrete/asphalt, which dropped lap times. … A day earlier, Will Power set a circuit qualifying record of 1 minute, 21.4045 seconds in the Firestone Fast Six. … Takuma Sato earned his first podium finish. He drove from the 25^th starting spot and overcame a pit lane speed violation on Lap 12. … Rookie Josef Newgarden set the fastest race lap.

Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit
Will Power, winner

Of note: Will Power wins from the 12th starting position in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car. ... Simon Pagenaud records best IZOD IndyCar Series finish in second. ... Seven cars are on the lead lap. ... Nineteen of the 26 cars are running at the finish.

Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama
2.38-mile, 17-turn road course
Will Power, winner

Of note: Will Power wins from the ninth starting position in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car. ... Scott Dixon is runner-up for the third consecutive year and second race in a row in 2012. ... Seventeen cars are on the lead lap. ... Twenty-three of the 26 cars are running at the finish. ... * Power led all 90 laps.

Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
1.8-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit
Helio Castroneves, winner

Of note: Helio Castroneves wins from the fifth starting position in the No. 3 Shell V-Power/Pennzoil Ultra Team Penske car. ... Thirteen cars are on the lead lap. ... Eighteen of the 26 cars are running at the finish.