2/27 :: Barber postcard

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Chrome noses are a signature piece of the four Andretti Autosport cars for the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season. "As part of the restructuring of the company, we decided we needed something that we could use as our ID," said John Lopes, senior vice president and chief marketing officer. "It was really Tom Anderson's suggestion. Michael (Andretti), J-F (Thormann), Tom and I kicked some different ideas around and then it was ultimately Mike McClelland (Andretti Autosport's director of creative services) that came up with the idea of the chrome noses. "We wanted something that would distinguish us on track and in the paddock, and something that would be a symbol of pride within our race team." The area on the front wing assembly isn't large on the cars of Marco Andretti, Ryan-Hunter-Reay, Tony Kanaan and Danica Patrick, but it adds a nice touch.   "We considered trying to 'chrome' a different area on the car - like the...