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2018 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama preview

By Brittany Frederick

BIRMINGHAM, AL - APRIL 23: Will Power (12) during the race morning warmup for the Honda Grand Prix of Alabama IndyCar race on April 23, 2017, at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL. (James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, AL - APRIL 23: Will Power (12) during the race morning warmup for the Honda Grand Prix of Alabama IndyCar race on April 23, 2017, at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL. (James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama completes a three-race stint for the Verizon IndyCar Series. Here’s what to watch for in IndyCar from Alabama.

The Verizon IndyCar Series heads south this Sunday for the 2018 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, which also completes a run of three races in three weeks. Who will capture the last win of April?

Team Penske was in full control of the 2017 edition of this race, with Will Power having one of his best performances of the year and Josef Newgarden taking the checkered flag on the way to being named the 2017 IndyCar champion. Newgarden will start up front for Sunday’s race.

But a lot can change in a year, and with the way the on-track competition has been so far this season, precedent may not mean as much as it used to. Even the smaller teams are fighting up front for each win, and whoever comes away from Birmingham with the big trophy will be in prime position when the race teams pack up for Indy.

Let’s break the race down in our Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama preview.

THREE THINGS TO WATCH:

  • Team Penske’s track record: It is fair to give Penske the edge going into this race, given how well both Power and Newgarden performed last year. We’d be discounting their outstanding drives if we did anything else. How will they do in 2018? And hey, where the heck is Simon Pagenaud? When is he going to insert himself into the conversation, because he will.
  • Andretti Autosport: The Andretti crew have had their struggles keeping up with Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing. But that was then, this is now. Alexander Rossi has been on the podium in every single race, and Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti and rookie Zach Veach all drove well at Long Beach (although Hunter-Reay got bitten by the technical gremlins again).
  • The weather: As of qualifying Saturday, the forecast was calling for rain during Sunday’s race, which is always an X-factor. Let’s hope the race stays dry as much as possible (we all remember the Grand Prix of Louisiana debacle), but wet racing will be unpredictable racing no matter who you are.

THREE DRIVERS TO WATCH:

  • Josef Newgarden: The defending Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama race winner would very much appreciate going back-to-back. Newgarden lost the 2018 IndyCar championship lead to Alexander Rossi after Rossi’s victory at Long Beach, so being able to take the checkered flag here would give him the points lead back. It would also be his second win in three races. He’s in the best possible spot, winning the Verizon P1 Award.
  • Will Power: The Australian should have been the race winner last year. Power dominated at Birmingham in 2017, winning the pole position, having the fastest lap and leading more laps than anyone. Coming off a runner-up finish at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, he also has the power (pun not intended) of momentum on his side. Power starts second, so he’s also in a great spot.
  • Scott Dixon: After having his day at Long Beach spoiled by another frustrating penalty (this time for being in the middle of a pit stop when a yellow flag came out), Dixon needs a strong finish. He’s not behind the eight-ball yet, but in two of the four races, his performance has been stunted by circumstances beyond his control, and you only get so many of those before your season’s done. Dixon would benefit immensely from a strong finish at Alabama and he will start sixth on Sunday.

Next: Graham Rahal discusses the 2018 IndyCar season

The 2018 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama is Sunday, April 22 at 3:00 p.m. ET. For full coverage of the 2018 IndyCar season, follow the Motor Sports category at FanSided.