Marco Andretti hoping to build from strong Alabama performance in Indianapolis

Ryan Hunter-Reay, right, and Marco Andretti celebrate after Hunter-Reay won the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama auto race on Sunday, April 27, 2014, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) (The Associated Press)

Marco Andretti (25) leads a pack of cars out of turn 16 during the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama auto race on Sunday, April 27, 2014, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) (The Associated Press)

Marco Andretti had an answer for everything crafty veteran Scott Dixon tried.

Andretti held off Dixon to finish second in Sunday's IndyCar race at Barber Motorsports Park behind Andretti Autosport teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay.

That sent Andretti to the new road course in Indianapolis on a good note after a rough start to the season. Team owner Michael Andretti says the performance "was huge for him." He says his son was aggressive when he needed to be and "didn't put a wheel wrong" when under pressure from Dixon.

It was Marco Andretti's first podium finish since taking third in Sao Paulo early in the 2013 season.

He headed to Indianapolis on Monday to begin "research" for the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis ahead of Wednesday's testing.