1. Hunter-Reay, Borg-Warner Trophy tour nation's capital2. Menards sponsors Pagenaud for three races3. Hildebrand joins Ed Carpenter Racing for month of May4. Exhibition Place street course to be modified for 2016 Honda Indy Toronto5. Sebring proves challenging for INDYCAR stars

1. Hunter-Reay, Borg-Warner Trophy tour nation's capital: Verizon IndyCar Series driver Ryan Hunter-Reay made the rounds at Capitol Hill with a close friend on March 22 - the Borg-Warner Trophy.

Hunter-Reay, the 2012 series champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner, toured the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., with the iconic trophy featuring bas relief sculptures of every Indianapolis 500 winner. Hunter-Reay met with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan from Wisconsin and several other members of Congress during the morning.

"It was a huge honor," Hunter-Reay said. "It was something new to me. I was surprised by the amount of interest in the Indy 500 and the Borg-Warner. I appreciate the House of Representatives for having us and celebrating one of America's greatest traditions, the Indy 500."

Hunter-Reay met Rep. Andre Carson of Indiana, whose district includes the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and was set to meet a number of others in the afternoon, including Rep. Susan Brooks of Indiana and representatives from districts where other Verizon IndyCar Series races are held.

"It was cool taking it all in and it is one of those experiences that you relish," Hunter-Reay said. "This is a very proud moment for me, as an American (Indianapolis 500) winner in our nation's capital with the powers that be discussing the Indy 500 and the road to victory."

Doug Boles, president of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, joined Hunter-Reay on the tour that included a stop on the Speaker's Balcony for a picturesque photo of Hunter-Reay and the trophy with another American icon, the Washington Monument, looming in the background.

"The reception that we've had today has been pretty overwhelming," Boles said. "It truly is the greatest race in the world and people from all over the country are demonstrating that today with their excitement in meeting Ryan Hunter-Reay and the Borg."

2. Menards sponsors Pagenaud for three races: John Menard spent the better part of three decades at Indianapolis Motor Speedway competing against cars fielded by Roger Penske.

The two longtime friends and Indy car owners will join forces in 2016 with Menards serving as a sponsor of Team Penske, the Indianapolis 500's most successful team.

"I've always looked up to Roger and his methods," Menard said during a press conference March 22 to announce Menards is returning to Indy car racing as a sponsor of the Team Penske No. 22 Chevrolet driven by Simon Pagenaud. "Penske perfect was always the goal. I always stressed that we had to do things perfect because I know guys who could do it that way."

Menards, an Eau Claire, Wis.-based home improvement company with 297 stores in the Midwest, will be primary sponsor on Pagenaud's entry for the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race presented by PennGrade Motor Oil in May, and the Road America Grand Prix this June.

The company, which served as a Verizon IndyCar Series team sponsor for nearly three decades for drivers such as Tony Stewart, Greg Ray, Scott Brayton, Arie Luyendyk, Vitor Meira and Ed Carpenter, will also serve as an associate sponsor on the No. 22 car for the rest of the season.

"Menards has a long and successful history in motorsports and we are excited to welcome them to Team Penske in 2016," Penske said. "John Menard and the entire Menards company have been longtime supporters of Indy car racing and it is special to have them on board as we celebrate the 50th season of Team Penske and the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500."

Pagenaud first saw the unique day-glow yellow car in the paint booth at Team Penske's Charlotte headquarters last week. He said the car popped then and will look even better on the track.

"Having Menards come back after having done so much for Indy car racing in the past is incredible and to have them join with Team Penske is even bigger for the sport," Pagenaud said. "I'm still yet to see the race suit, so I wonder what color it's going to be. But I'm super excited to represent Menards."

3. Hildebrand joins Ed Carpenter Racing for month of May: After teaming up for impressive performances at Indianapolis Motor Speedway the last two years, JR Hildebrand, Ed Carpenter Racing and Preferred Freezer Services are renewing their partnership for another month of May.

Hildebrand will drive the Preferred Freezer Services Chevrolet for ECR in both the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 14 and the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil on May 29.

"I'm really glad we were able to put everything together at ECR to continue our program with Preferred Freezer," Hildebrand said. "Especially going into this year's 100th Running of the '500,' you know everyone is bringing their absolute best to the fight. After the experience I've had over the last two years with this team, I know that we're going to be bringing a race-winning effort ourselves. I'm looking forward to working with Ed and Josef again and putting the PFS entries up front throughout May."

Hildebrand, 28, will be making his sixth Indianapolis 500 start and his second in the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis. He was named the 2011 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year after finishing second to Dan Wheldon and won the 2009 Indy Lights championship. He finished eighth in the 2015 Indianapolis 500, best of the three ECR drivers.

In addition, Josef Newgarden, ECR's full-time driver in the Verizon IndyCar Series, will carry Preferred Freezer sponsorship for both May races as well as the Honda Indy Toronto in July and the Grand Prix of Boston powered by LogMeIn in September. PFS will also be an associate sponsor at other events.

"I'm thrilled to have Preferred Freezer Services on the car," Newgarden said. "They are such a great partner of ECR and very supportive of our efforts. It's going to be a fun month of May trying to get them a couple of wins at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I'm even more excited to have JR back on the team; he's a phenomenal teammate and fantastic driver. I'm excited to work with him and Ed as 'Team America' again."

Preferred Freezer Services joined ECR in 2014, backing Hildebrand in the Indianapolis 500. After enjoying substantial gains in brand awareness over the past two years, PFS will have a presence with ECR at all remaining Verizon IndyCar Series races in 2016.

"It is great to have Preferred Freezer back for another month of May and to carry them on the cars all year long," Carpenter, 35, said. "It is always 'cool' to have the giant polar bear (mascot) around. This is a partnership that has grown each year and we are proud to see it grow again this year. We all have high hopes for all of our team cars at Indianapolis and I can't wait to get started."

4. Exhibition Place street course to be modified for 2016 Honda Indy Toronto: A modified track layout - including the shift of pit lane to the opposite side of the circuit - highlights changes to the temporary street course that plays host to the Honda Indy Toronto from July 15-17.

The modified design - the first since 1996 and third since the inaugural race in 1986 - accommodates Hotel X Toronto, the newly constructed structure on the historic grounds of Exhibition Place, just inside the Princes' Gates and opposite the Enercare Centre (previously known as the Direct Energy Centre). The new configuration also features the relocation of hospitality suites, grandstands and famous pit lane.

Pit lane will move to the north side of the track, starting at Turn 9 and extending back onto Princes' Boulevard past Turn 11 before the start-finish line. The popular hospitality suites will also move to the north side. Both were previously located on the south side of Princes' Boulevard. The Turn 11 grandstands will be located on the south side of pit lane and a new pedestrian and wheelchair track crossing has been added at Turn 9.

"This year marks the 30th year of racing in Toronto," said Jeff Atkinson, president of the Honda Indy Toronto. "We are thrilled to be able to provide a double feature to help mark the occasion, with the NASCAR Pinty's Series headlining on Saturday and the Verizon IndyCar Series on Sunday. Fans are in for an exciting weekend of racing at the Honda Indy Toronto this summer."

Ticket sales season for the 30th year of Indy car racing on the streets of Toronto is now open, beginning with an exclusive renewal period for fans who purchased weekend grandstand tickets in 2015. Renewal customers will have access to a new program, the Champions Club, offering many exciting benefits, including Paddock Passes, access to the Verizon IndyCar Series pre-race grid walk and an opportunity to sign the start-finish line for the 2016 Honda Indy Toronto. Ticket sales for the general public will begin April 12.

5. Sebring proves challenging for INDYCAR stars: While there weren't any championships or podiums to celebrate, Verizon IndyCar Series drivers participating in an eventful Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring endurance sports car race on March 19.

Ryan Hunter-Reay, normally pilot of the No. 28 DHL Honda for Andretti Autosport in the Verizon IndyCar Series, was part of the Visit Florida Racing team that finished fifth overall and in the Prototype class after battling for the lead late. Scott Dixon switched from his No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet to race for the first time in the Ganassi team's Ford GT, which finished fifth in the GTLM class, with Ryan Briscoe among his teammates.

Spencer Pigot, rookie driver for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in INDYCAR, helped drive the No. 55 Mazda Prototype to a sixth-place overall finish.

Heavy rain and lightning hindered conditions during the 12-hour event on the 3.74-mile Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway road course, forcing the race to be red-flagged for 2 hours, 15 minutes.

The No. 90 Chevrolet Corvette DP that Hunter-Reay co-drove was battling for the lead in the final hour with teammate Marc Goosens at the wheel, but contact with another car dropped Goosens to fifth, where he finished 18.078 seconds behind the winning Honda HPD Ligier JS P2 that backed up its triumph in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January with the Sebring crown.

"We had a good run there in the middle of the race, we didn't just have the pace for the leaders," Hunter-Reay said. "We lacked a little balance there. It was fun. I had a good time in the car. The cooling in the car kind of went south, so that made it a little difficult for us today. We know what we need to do heading into Long Beach and hopefully that'll be the race where we break through."

The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is scheduled to race again during the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend April 15-17 with the Verizon IndyCar Series. Hunter-Reay will drive in both events.

Meanwhile at Sebring, Dixon - the reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion - pushed the Ganassi No. 67 Ford GT into the lead for the first time in a race in its celebrated return to sports car racing this year. The car eventually finished fifth in class and 15th overall, but on the same lap as the GTLM winner.

"Conditions were very mixed," Dixon said. "We had lots of rain and obviously a red flag, too. I think the car performed well. We got to the end, which was the main objective. I think the car had signs of good speed. Strategy, I think we missed a little bit, but obviously good progress since Daytona. Everything's moving the right direction." The primary target for the program is June's 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the Ford GT won 50 years ago. Last week, Dixon was named one of the drivers for the event.

Pigot helped his Mazda equal its best finish of sixth overall and in the Prototype division. The Florida native is slated to drive three races this season in the No. 16 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda in the Verizon IndyCar Series, including the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil.

"It was pretty crazy race out there," Pigot said of Sebring. "Lots of drama and excitement all through the race. It was cool to have my first experience in this race and with Mazda. I went through quite a bit of anything from wet to dry, from day to night. I definitely got to experience it all. Big thanks to the guys. They had good pit stops all day and the car was great as well."