Cavin: IndyCar's winners and losers at Barber

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Only one IndyCar Series team went to victory lane Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park, but there were others that came away winners. There were losers, too, some more obvious than others.

WINNERS

1. Josef Newgarden: He thought long and hard about re-signing with Sarah Fisher and Wink Hartman before last fall's merger with Ed Carpenter Racing, and now it looks like a golden decision. CFH Racing and Newgarden have qualified in the Fast Six each of the past two weekends, and they have momentum heading to Indy. They could win either the May 9 road race (the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis) or the May 24 Indianapolis 500, or both.

2. Graham Rahal: A spirited late charge, to be sure, but he'd already shown to be one of the two best drivers on this particular day. Clearly, the revamping of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's engineering staff has helped. But here's the question no one wants to pose: Did his father coming off the timing stand help, too?

3. IndyCar: The series doesn't need a pair of Americans to finish 1-2, but it helps. Or, as Newgarden said after holding off Rahal for the win, "I don't think it's necessary, but it's nice."

4. Indianapolis Motor Speedway: What better way to build momentum for the two May races in Indy than a compelling and plot-rich TV broadcast.

5. Barber Motorsports Park: It's a beautiful place that's building a terrific reputation.

6. Will Power: Recovered from an early penalty to finish fourth. That's how championships are won. It could be how one is defended, too.

7. Honda: Four finishers in the top seven and relief that the product might not be so bad.

LOSERS

1. Helio Castroneves: The Brazilian was in line for a top-five finish until his team ran him out of fuel on the last lap. Remember, Helio has never won a season title, and such a crown would cement his place among the sport's all-time greats. But as he said, it's never good to see the white flag from pit road. He finished 15th and failed to gain a point on series leader Juan Pablo Montoya.

2. Scott Dixon: Sunday's finish was the worst of his career at Barber Motorsports Park. OK, he was third. His six finishes there: Second, second, second, second, third and third. He's such a loser.

3. Takuma Sato: Sato and the A.J. Foyt Racing crew did not deserve a 17th-place finish. It's still difficult to explain how Will Power didn't know and didn't see Sato rocketing down the hill from Turn 1.

4. Stefano Coletti: Ought to consider avoiding Montoya for a few weeks.

5. Team Penske: Four races, four poles, one win. At Barber, its drivers finished fourth, ninth, 14th and 15th, and that's not how this season is supposed to go. Power and Pagenaud even trail Newgarden in the standings.

Follow Curt Cavin on Twitter: @curtcavin

Next race: Angie's List GP of Indianapolis, May 9