Series prepares for another competitive seasonIf the timesheets from the preseason Open Test at Barber Motorsports Park are any indication of what's to come, then 2013 is shaping up to be another competitive IZOD IndyCar Series season. The top 16 cars of the 28 car/driver combinations that participated in the test were separated by a second. Last season produced another competitive championship with Ryan Hunter-Reay edging Will Power for his first IZOD IndyCar Series championship. Can 2013 produce another close title chase?Can Hunter-Reay repeat in 2013?

The 2012 season saw the emergence of Ryan Hunter-Reay as a champion race car driver. Now his challenge is to defend the No. 1 and his IZOD IndyCar Series crown. How will Hunter-Reay fare as "Ryan Hunted-Reay" in 2013?Power looking to move upAfter finishing runner-up to the champion for three consecutive years, Team Penske's Will Power is looking to finish on top for the first time in his career. Last season, Power notched three victories and five poles; falling just three points shy of a championship. Will the fourth time be the charm for Power?Rising stars seek breakthrough winJR Hildebrand, James Hinchcliffe, Simon Pagenaud, Charlie Kimball and Simona de Silvestro have built strong fan followings with their performances on and off the track, but each is looking for their first win in the IZOD IndyCar Series. Can one of the young stars break through at St. Pete?American FlyersThe IZOD IndyCar Series features a group of home-grown stars who represent the stars and stripes in the most diverse series in motorsports. Reigning series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, race winners Marco Andretti, Ed Carpenter and Graham Rahal and rising stars JR Hildebrand, Charlie Kimball and Josef Newgarden all worked their way up the American open-wheel ladder to reach the IZOD IndyCar Series.Simon's Sophomore Season2012 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Simon Pagenaud returns to Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports for his second season in the IZOD IndyCar Series. Pagenaud, a 28-year-old native of France recorded six top-five and many believe he is poised to win his first race in 2013, can he do it at St. Pete?Franchitti looks to bounce backBy most standards, Dario Franchitti had a good 2013 with a top-10 finish in points and an Indianapolis 500 win. But Franchitti is a four-time IZOD IndyCar Series titlist and has set a high standard of competition. Can Franchitti capitalize on his 2012 pace (three poles) and rebound to challenge for the championship again?

Awakening the silent giantScott Dixon prefers to fly under the radar and let other drivers get publicity but the New Zealander has won an IZOD IndyCar series title every five years (he won in 2003 and 2008.) As Dixon transitions from a rising star (once the youngest Indy car winner) to respected veteran climbing the all-time wins chart, can he continue the trend of winning a title every five years?Keep an eye on SimonaSimona de Silvestro is ready to have a breakout season in the IZOD IndyCar Series. After showing flashes of success since her rookie season in 2010, the Swiss driver moves to KV Racing Technology in 2013, where she will work with a teammate - 2004 IZOD IndyCar Series champion Tony Kanaan - for the first time.French connection to St. PeteSebastien Bourdais and Tristan Vautier may both be from France, but they have found a home in the Tampa Bay area. Both drivers live in St. Petersburg and each has  had previous success on the streets of St. Petersburg. Bourdais won his first Indy car pole in the first race in 2003, while Vautier won the Firestone Indy Lights race in 2003. Can either of the fast Frenchman score a win in their adopted hometown?You can go home againGraham Rahal has proven you can go home again. The second-generation driver will drive for his famous father Bobby Rahal as part of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's two-car lineup. Rahal, who won at St. Petersburg in 2008, hopes to bring himself and his family-owned team back to Victory Lane. Mazda Road to Indy on displayThe full Mazda Road to Indy ladder system, designed to groom the up-and-coming stars of the IZOD IndyCar Series, will be on display at St. Pete. Mazda will again provide scholarships for the 2013 champions of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda, Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires and Firestone Indy Lights to advance to the next level. The scholarship program strengthens INDYCAR's driver development program by providing drivers the opportunities to advance based on talent, not financials.

Race Notes:The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will be the ninth IZOD IndyCar Series event and 10th Indy car race conducted on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. Previous race winners entered are Helio Castroneves (2006, 2007 and 2012), Dario Franchitti (2011), Will Power (2010), Ryan Briscoe (2009) and Graham Rahal (2008).Previous pole winners entered are Will Power (2010-12), Graham Rahal (2009), Tony Kanaan (2008), Helio Castroneves (2007), Dario Franchitti (2006) and Sebastien Bourdais (2003).At least 24 drivers entered in the event have competed in previous Indy car races at St. Pete. Thirteen (13) of those drivers have led laps: (Helio Castroneves 163, Dario Franchitti 113, Scott Dixon 94, Justin Wilson 70, Will Power 67, Sebastien Bourdais 30, Graham Rahal 19, Tony Kanaan 15, E.J. Viso 13, Takuma Sato 11, Marco Andretti 5, Ryan Hunter-Reay 4 and JR Hildebrand 3.)Tristan Vautier will compete in his first IZOD IndyCar Series race on the streets of St. Petersburg. Vautier, the 2012 Firestone Indy Lights champion, won his Firestone Indy Lights debut on the track last season.

Milestones & Records:         Should Dario Franchitti win the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series championship, he will join A.J. Foyt as the only drivers to win five Indy car titles in his career. Franchitti won the title in 2007 and again from 2009-2011. Foyt won seven championships in his career.         With his next victory, Dario Franchitti will pass Paul Tracy and Sebastien Bourdais for seventh (7th) on the all-time wins list, if neither Bourdais nor Tracy wins before he does. The trio is tied with 31 wins following Franchitti's 2012 win at Indianapolis.         With a victory in 2013, Scott Dixon will extend his streak of consecutive seasons with a win to nine.         With his next victory, Scott Dixon will move into sole possession of ninth place (9th) on the all-time wins list. Dixon won his 29th race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Aug. 5, 2012 to tie Rick Mears for 10th place on the all-time wins list.         With his next victory, Helio Castroneves will move into sole possession of 11th place on the all-time wins list. Castroneves, who won his 27th race at Edmonton City Centre on July 22, 2012 tied Johnny Rutherford for 12th with the victory.         Helio Castroneves needs three earned poles to reach 40 career poles in his Indy car career.         Dario Franchitti and Will Power each need one earned pole to reach 30 in their Indy car career.         Scott Dixon needs two earn poles to reach 20 in his Indy car career.         With one pole in 2012, Scott Dixon will extend his IZOD IndyCar Series streak to seven consecutive seasons.         Tony Kanaan will attempt to make his 197th consecutive start. Jimmy Vasser holds the all-time record of 211. Scott Dixon with 138 straight starts and Marco Andretti with 114 straight starts are the only other active driver with a streak of more than 100 consecutive starts.         Ryan Hunter-Reay needs 11 starts to mark 100th consecutive IZOD IndyCar Series starts.At-Track Schedule (all times local):Friday, March 2211:10-11:55 a.m.         IZOD IndyCar Series practice2:40-3:25 p.m.             IZOD IndyCar Series practiceSaturday, March 2310:25 to 11:10 a.m.     IZOD IndyCar Series practice2:05 -3:15 p.m.            IZOD IndyCar Series Pole Qualifying

(Knockout qualifying & Firestone Fast 6 format)Sunday, March 248:45-9:15 a.m.             IZOD IndyCar Series Warm Up11:50 a.m.                   IZOD IndyCar Series Pre-Race12:40 p.m.       Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (110 laps/198 miles) NBC Sports Network (Live)***The 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series season opens with the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg March 24 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. The race will be televised live at noon (ET) by the NBC Sports Network (Verizon FiOS 90/590, DirecTV 220, DISH 159 and AT&T UVerse 640) and broadcast by the IMS Radio Network, on SiriusXM (Channel 211) and www.indycar.com. The 2013 Firestone Indy Lights season begins March 23 on the streets of St. Petersburg. The race will be broadcast by NBC Sports Network at 11 a.m. (ET) on March 24, immediately preceding the IZOD IndyCar Series race broadcast.