1. Andretti Autosport hopes to ride Barber momentum into Month of May

2. Suretone to sponsor Busch at Indianapolis 500

3. Inside the box score - Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama

4. Royal Purple joins Bell's sponsorship lineup

1. Andretti Autosport hopes to ride Barber momentum into Month of May: Standing in Victory Circle after winning the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, Ryan Hunter-Reay pointed to each member of the No. 28 DHL crew as a way of recognizing their efforts that went into the April 27 victory at Barber Motorsports Park.

It was the second consecutive win on the 2.38-mile, 17-turn road course for Hunter-Reay, who led teammate Marco Andretti across the finish line under caution in a timed race brought about by a 2-hour, 30-minute rain delay.

"It was a huge race for us. This track used to be one of our weakest points," said Hunter-Reay, who moved 18 points behind championship leader Will Power of Team Penske with his 12th Indy car victory. "To put Andretti 1-2, it's impressive. Everybody has been working hard to move in the same direction. It's been a very strong start to the season for this team overall."

Collectively, the four Andretti Autosport drivers have an average starting position of 6.5 and six appearances in the Firestone Fast Six. Hunter-Reay won the pole at Long Beach and has started on Row 2 in the other races. James Hinchcliffe has a pair of front-row starts, and rookie Carlos Munoz has started seventh twice (missing the Firestone Fast Six at Barber by .0040 of a second).

The foursome has an average finish of 12.1, with three podium finishes. Each has been subject to contact or a mechanical issue, which has impacted results. Last year, Andretti, Hinchcliffe, Hunter-Reay and E.J. Viso had an average finish of 12.8 through the same three events.

"That's the thing in IndyCar these days, that's how it goes," said Hunter-Reay, who was on pace for a podium at Long Beach until being involved in a multi-car incident on Lap 56 of 80. "You've just got to show up with a good attitude on race day. Doesn't matter how warm-up went or your last qualifying session, you have a shot in the race.

"(At Barber) I didn't have any expectations up front. Just went for it."

The inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 10 is the next test before practice begins the next day for the 98th Indianapolis 500. Drivers will participate in an Open Test on April 30 on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course and have two practice sessions May 8.

"It's the first time you can say, 'How is this going to help you going into Indy?' '' team owner Michael Andretti said. "Well, this might help us. Our cars have been running well on these types of tracks. Hopefully, Indy will be similar to (Barber)."

2. Suretone to sponsor Busch at Indianapolis 500: Andretti Autosport unveiled the car in which Kurt Busch will participate in his effort to compete in his first Indianapolis 500.

Busch will drive the No. 26 Suretone car as he attempts to become the fourth driver to contest the "Double" -- competing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" and at Charlotte Motor Speedway in a stock car race later on May 25.

"It's an exciting day," Busch said. "Reality is setting in that this is real and it's go time. For me, it's a dream come true, but the kid in a candy store moment is all behind me. Now it's the focus of practice time and settling in with Andretti Autosport. Just to have Andretti Autosport and to have (team owner) Michael (Andretti) himself involved, this is the right way to do things. Their team experience will help lead my inexperience."

Busch is scheduled to join 1995 Indianapolis 500 winner Jacques Villeneuve on the 2.5-mile oval April 29 for testing.

Suretone Entertainment was founded in 2006 by Jordan Schur as Suretone Records after his successful tenure of almost a decade as president of Geffen Records. Suretone Entertainment has expanded into a broader company in the interim, including film development, financing and production, as well as music artist management.

"We are honored to have Suretone Entertainment stand with Andretti Autosport and Kurt Busch in this historic event as Kurt enters his first Indianapolis 500 qualifying run, as well as attempts to become only the fourth driver in motorsport history to contest the 'Double'," said Schur, Suretone Entertainment chairman. "As Kurt moves towards his goal to drive in the Indy 500 and NASCAR's 600-mile race on the same day, Suretone takes great pride to partner with Andretti Autosport as we support Kurt in his incredible endeavor."

3. Inside the Box Score - Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama: Numbers to note following the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama - the third round of the 2014 Verizon Indy Car Series season.

1.55 - Average running position of winner Ryan Hunter-Reay for the 69 laps of racing at Barber Motorsports Park.

2 - Consecutive wins by Ryan Hunter-Reay at Barber Motorsports Park. He had finished outside the top 10 in his previous three starts.

5 - Consecutive top-five finishes by Will Power, including the final two races of 2013.

7 - Lead changes in the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, tied with the inaugural race for second most. The previous four races averaged 5.5 lead changes.

14 - Positions improved by Tony Kanaan (23 to ninth), most of any driver in the race.

14 - Laps in which Takuma Sato, Sebastian Saavedra, Charlie Kimball and Jack Hawksworth improved their position - the most of any driver in the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama.

34 - Consecutive races without a DNF for Helio Castroneves, the longest streak among current drivers.

37 - The lead Chevrolet has in the Manufacturers' Championship standings after Honda placed three cars in the top-five at Barber Motorsports Park. Chevrolet leads Honda 266-229.

218 - Consecutive starts for Tony Kanaan, extending his Indy car record. Kanaan's streak dates to Portland 2001.

4. Royal Purple joins Bell's sponsorship lineup: KV Racing Technology and driver Townsend Bell announced that Royal Purple will be an associate sponsor on the No. 6 Robert Graham - KV Racing Technology Chevrolet at the 98th Running of the Indianapolis 500.

"I first raced with Royal Purple last year at the X Games in Munich, Germany," Bell said. "It is really cool that they have added their support to my Indy 500 effort in addition to their support of my TUDOR United SportsCar Championship AIM Autosport Ferrari program."

Royal Purple manufactures a wide range of premium synthetic lubricants for racing, consumer, commercial and industrial applications.

"We are excited to extend our partnership with Townsend Bell as he competes in the Indianapolis 500 in the backyard of our parent company Calumet Specialty Product Partners," said Bryan Yourdon, Royal Purple President. "Townsend's talent behind the wheel has been demonstrated at two of the premier TUDOR United SportsCar Championship races at Daytona and Sebring this season, and we look forward to supporting his success at the Indianapolis 500."

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The next Verizon IndyCar Series race is the Inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 10 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race will be televised live by ABC at 3:30 p.m. (ET) and broadcast by the IMS Radio Network, including Sirius Channel 213 and XM Channel 209, and the INDYCAR 14 app for most smartphones and tablets.