If that championship-minded outlook is why some don’t consider him one of IndyCar’s elite drivers, don’t expect RHR to go out of his way to dispel those beliefs.

“I don't think we get enough credit for being as consistent as we are,” he remarked. “But we’re not looking for credit. We went out and won those races, we earned them through merit and we won the championship. We were better, we accumulated more points than anybody last year. Kill them with consistency. But consistency comes down to what is key to an IndyCar championship.

“And what has always been a special part of that IndyCar Championship and that is the diversity, the discipline of racing, which is the short ovals, Superspeedway, road course/street course, no other series in the world has it. And that's what makes it a true driver’s championship. And I think it shows that you can't just be one-sided in this championship and win it. I think we've seen that the past few years.”

A lot has changed in RHR's world since winning the 2012 championship, including becoming a father for the first time, but the Florida resident will try to maintain the status quo as possible in 2013. (Photo: Marshall Pruett)

Asked to single out a few primary contenders for the upcoming championship, RHR expects to be surrounded by some familiar names all season.

“Dario [Franchitti] and [Scott] Dixon first of all, right, because these guys have won championships, they've won the Indy 500, they're probably two of the most solid drivers in the series that have the credentials to prove it,” he said. “They have the most race wins, they've won the biggest races, and they’re teammates. So I would say those two, first and foremost.

“And I think Will [Power] for obvious reasons. Will is blindingly quick on the road and street courses and he has a qualifying and win record from the past two years that's unmatched. He is Mister Road and Street course right now. And if you look at our schedule, it's pretty heavily road and street.”

Franchitti, Dixon and Power are the popular choices for the 2013 championship, which RHR understands, but also likes his chances of earning two-in-a-row.

“We’re solid all the way through,” he opined. “We’re going to be there on the podium at road courses, we’re going to be on the podium that street courses. We’re going to be there on the podium at the big ovals and on the short ovals. I can understand why most of them say Dario, Scott and Will. If you look at the championship the last two years it's come down to who? It's come down to Will and Dario or Will and Scott.

“But if you know me, you know I’m most comfortable being the underdog. I don’t mind if people aren’t talking about me for the championship. That’s where I work best—when no one expects it.”

Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, covering IndyCar and sports cars. Now in his 27th year in the sport, Pruett was an open-wheel mechanic, engineer and manager before joining SPEED. He also contributes to RACER, Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him @MarshallPruett.