Round 1: Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, March 28 - 30, 2014

[bjohnsonsmith]

Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

The event was first held as an SCCA Trans-Am Series race, on the downtown waterfront circuit from 1985-1990 but local residents and businesses complained about the noise and the event was put on hold but revived in 1996-1997, on a new course around Tropicana Field. In 2003, the event was revived again, initially as a Champ Car event using a modified version of the original 1985–90 waterfront circuit. In 2004, the event was cancelled due to a dispute between the promoters. The race returned in 2005 but it had switched to the IndyCar Series, marking the first non-oval event for the Indy Racing League. This Sunday's event will be the 11th running of the race on the current course and the 10th as an IndyCar event.

Track information





Length: 1.8 Miles (2.9 Km)
Turns: 14
Lap record: Sébastien Bourdais (1:00.928, Lola B02/00-Ford Cosworth, 2003, Champ Car)

Last year's winner:
James Hinchcliffe
Andretti Autosport
Dallara Chevrolet
Laps 110
Distance 198 Miles, (318.65km)
Race Time 2:22:13
Average Spees 83.539 MPH

TV Coverage
ABC will have a live telecast of the event on Sunday, March 30, with pre-race at 3 p.m. ET. The green flag will fly at 3:27 p.m. ET.

International coverage is provided by ESPN.

[HJJ]

1st practice is over.

Pos Driver Team/Engine Time Gap Laps 1. James Hinchcliffe Andretti/Honda 1m02.9326s 14 2. Justin Wilson Coyne/Honda 1m02.9385s +0.0059s 17 3. Takuma Sato Foyt/Honda 1m03.0603s +0.1277s 18 4. Will Power Penske/Chevy 1m03.1932s +0.2606s 20 5. Sebastien Bourdais KV/Chevy 1m03.1948s +0.2622s 18 6. Ryan Briscoe Ganassi/Chevy 1m03.2067s +0.2741s 14 7. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti/Honda 1m03.2684s +0.3358s 14 8. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt/Honda 1m03.3087s +0.3761s 17 9. Graham Rahal Rahal/Honda 1m03.3254s +0.3928s 20 10. Tony Kanaan Ganassi/Chevy 1m03.3258s +0.3932s 14 11. Helio Castroneves Penske/Chevy 1m03.3998s +0.4672s 17 12. Josef Newgarden Fisher/Honda 1m03.4827s +0.5501s 18 13. Scott Dixon Ganassi/Chevy 1m03.6425s +0.7099s 17 14. Juan Pablo Montoya Penske/Chevy 1m03.6759s +0.7433s 22 15. Carlos Munoz Andretti/Honda 1m03.6948s +0.7622s 20 16. Mike Conway Carpenter/Chevy 1m03.7559s +0.8233s 18 17. Marco Andretti Andretti/Honda 1m03.7807s +0.8481s 14 18. Charlie Kimball Ganassi/Chevy 1m03.9023s +0.9697s 13 19. Jack Hawksworth Herta/Honda 1m04.0541s +1.1215s 19 20. Mikhail Aleshin Schmidt/Honda 1m04.1986s +1.2660s 21 21. Sebastian Saavedra KV/Chevy 1m04.6781s +1.7455s 17 22. Carlos Huertas Coyne/Honda 1m07.7706s +4.8380s 6

.

[Canada ALMS fan]

I was at this race last year to witness Hinchcliffe's first win. Wish I could be there, if the rain does come it will be even more interesting. I am curious to see how Montoya does in his return. As I said in another thread, it is great to hear Paul Page again. To me he is one of the voices of Indycar.

[D.R.T.]

Practice 2

Pos Driver Team/Engine Time Gap Laps
1. Takuma Sato Foyt/Honda 1m02.5615s 23
2. Graham Rahal Rahal/Honda 1m02.6122s +0.0507s 23
3. Will Power Penske/Chevy 1m02.6443s +0.0321s 25
4. Helio Castroneves Penske/Chevy 1m02.8178s +0.1735s 24
5. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt/Honda 1m02.9129s +0.0951s 21
6. Ryan Briscoe Ganassi/Chevy 1m03.0142s +0.1013s 17
7. James Hinchcliffe Andretti/Honda 1m03.0301s +0.0159s 16
8. Scott Dixon Ganassi/Chevy 1m03.0510s +0.0209s 24
9. Sebastien Bourdais KV/Chevy 1m03.0671s +0.0161s 22
10. Jack Hawksworth Herta/Honda 1m03.0793s +0.0122s 18
11. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti/Honda 1m03.1796s +0.1003s 17
12. Carlos Munoz Andretti/Honda 1m03.1814s +0.0018s 21
13. Mikhail Aleshin Schmidt/Honda 1m03.2045s +0.0231s 21
14. Josef Newgarden Fisher/Honda 1m03.2846s +0.0801s 14
15. Tony Kanaan Ganassi/Chevy 1m03.3067s +0.0221s 19
16. Charlie Kimball Ganassi/Chevy 1m03.3812s +0.0745s 17
17. Marco Andretti Andretti/Honda 1m03.4077s +0.0265s 21
18. Juan Pablo Montoya Penske/Chevy 1m03.4624s +0.0547s 19
19. Justin Wilson Coyne/Honda 1m03.5476s +0.0852s 16
20. Mike Conway Carpenter/Chevy 1m03.6336s +0.0860s 21
21. Sebastian Saavedra KV/Chevy 1m03.8422s +0.2086s 19
22. Carlos Huertas Coyne/Honda 1m04.3481s +0.5059s 21

[NaBUru38]

Honda seems very strong, unlike what journalists were saying.

Qualifying will be tight!

[NaBUru38]

Live stream from St Petersburg the whole weekend here.

(Just one camera, I know.)

[FordCosworthPanoz]

Looks like dumping Juan Cheeseburger Montoya for Larson was a smart move on Chip Ganassi's part, now Penske has him to deal with.

Honda is indeed looking strong.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Briscoe tops 3rd Practice.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/113176

[BudLightJaguar]

Bad weather eh? The official IndyCar page says that qualifying rounds have been delayed.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by BudLightJaguar

Bad weather eh? The official IndyCar page says that qualifying rounds have been delayed.

Apparently it's very windy there.

[HJJ]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Apparently it's very windy there.

Tornado warnings earlier. They told people to leave the grandstands and seek shelter.

https://twitter.com/marshallpruett/s...976064/photo/1

Qualies to start 5:00 - 6:15 PM local time.

[Canada ALMS fan]

Attention fellow Canadian race fans: City TV will have the race live tomorrow just in case your ABC channel isn't carrying it.

[NaBUru38]

Q1 is red flagged for a light crash. Everyone on wet tyres. Action will presumably resume shortly.

[TF110]

Not sure how this group qualifying works, but Sato up front by .0010!

[JHamilton]

How does one watch quali this year?

[Baigu]

Tried to watch qualy but didn't seem to be available, even online.

As the Indycar section always been this "dead" There doesn't seem to be interest in the series. Speaking for myself, I'm not excited at all, have not been in a while. I'm trying to, but can't find anything that makes me want to watch the race. I don't feel like I'm missing anything by not watching... It's annoying because I really want this series to succeed since it's all we have in North America.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

How does one watch quali this year?

I haven't a clue and living over here doesn't help.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Sato on pole

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/113185

Pos Driver Team/Engine Time Gap
1. Takuma Sato Foyt/Honda 1m01.8686s
2. Tony Kanaan Ganassi/Chevy 1m02.1637s +0.2951s
3. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti/Honda 1m02.2167s +0.3481s
4. Will Power Penske/Chevy 1m02.3955s +0.5269s
5. Scott Dixon Ganassi/Chevy 1m02.4454s +0.5768s
6. Marco Andretti Andretti/Honda 1m02.9595s +1.0909s
7. Carlos Munoz Andretti/Honda 1m03.3955s Round 2
8. Jack Hawksworth Herta/Honda 1m03.5738s Round 2
9. Ryan Briscoe Ganassi/Chevy 1m03.6206s Round 2
10. Helio Castroneves Penske/Chevy 1m03.6635s Round 2
11. Sebastian Saavedra KV/Chevy 1m03.8374s Round 2
12. Mike Conway Carpenter/Chevy 1m03.9618s Round 2
13. Sebastien Bourdais KV/Chevy 1m15.8337s Group 1
14. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt/Honda 1m12.3741s Group 2
15. Mikhail Aleshin Schmidt/Honda 1m15.9111s Group 1
16. Justin Wilson Coyne/Honda 1m12.5890s Group 2
17. Carlos Huertas Coyne/Honda 1m16.8105s Group 1
18. Juan Pablo Montoya Penske/Chevy 1m12.6994s Group 2
19. James Hinchcliffe Andretti/Honda 1m17.0155s Group 1
20. Charlie Kimball Ganassi/Chevy 1m13.0048s Group 2
21. Graham Rahal Rahal/Honda 1m52.9601s Group 1
22. Josef Newgarden Fisher/Honda 1m13.1170s Group 2

[rwintle]

Originally Posted by Canada ALMS fan

Attention fellow Canadian race fans: City TV will have the race live tomorrow just in case your ABC channel isn't carrying it.

Thank you! I saw this and should have posted it here (my bad) so glad you did. One or other of the Sportsnet channels has delayed coverage in the evening too, if you are of the Rogers persuasion.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by Baigu

I'm trying to, but can't find anything that makes me want to watch the race. I don't feel like I'm missing anything by not watching.

Id suggest watching the race. Going off 2013, Indycar providing the best racing of pretty much all major international motorsport.

If you still feel after watching this that you arent missing anything then best of luck to you.

[Knowlesy]

Montoya sucks.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Baigu

Tried to watch qualy but didn't seem to be available, even online.

As the Indycar section always been this "dead" There doesn't seem to be interest in the series. Speaking for myself, I'm not excited at all, have not been in a while. I'm trying to, but can't find anything that makes me want to watch the race. I don't feel like I'm missing anything by not watching... It's annoying because I really want this series to succeed since it's all we have in North America.

You can't get excited but you want the series to succeed; an interesting conundrum. Give the race a go and if you like what you see, then tell those friends of yours who have an interest in motorsport. The series will only succeed if the fan base grows.

The last two seasons have produced some excellent racing, much better than many F1 GPs.

[FordCosworthPanoz]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

Montoya sucks.

I hear that he's still a legend in remote controlled airplanes.


There you can eat as many cheeseburgers as you want and still be successful.

[Baigu]

I've actually been watching Indycar (CART & Champcar) since 1998, but followed it really closely from 2004 to 2010, attended a few races. Watched it again in 2012, but quickly lost interest again. Last year, watched maybe half the season on and off. I know the racing was really good, but I watch racing more for the cars / engines than drivers, and sadly Indycar doesn't offer much in that department. Maybe it's why I became more of an ALMS fan since attending Mosport in 2008. My interest in 2012 came from Lotus, Chevy & Honda.

[BudLightJaguar]

Originally Posted by FordCosworthPanoz

There you can eat as many cheeseburgers as you want and still be successful.

And when he's not successful anymore, he can still say "I'm bigger than Al Jr.".

But what comes to the IndyCar series, I actually skipped the 2013 season since I was following sports cars on both sides of the pond very closely. Of course I watched Indy 500, but rest of the season just ran by. But I'll start to follow the series again this season.