[Danicafan]

Well, I figured I would start posting a race thread for each Indycar series race. I have been doing this for a couple years now on other racing forums I belong to. I put in a lot of information in these threads...Info on the race, entry list, track maps, practice sessions, qualifying results, starting lineups, final results, etc.

Also its a place to talk about the upcoming race. I am very excited the season is just about here. It's just over 2 weeks away. I hope you enjoy these race threads as much as I do making them. So, lets get started !

 

[Danicafan]

Race 1 of 16

Race - Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

Location - Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida

Date - Sunday, March 25th

Time & TV Schedule - Pre-Race Show - 12:00PM , Green Flag - 12:30PM - ABC

Course Type - 1.8 Mile Street Course

Distance - 100 Laps / 180 Miles

Practice Sessions -

Friday, March 23rd - 11:50AM-12:50PM & 2:30PM-3:50PM Eastern
Saturday, March 24th - 9:55AM-10:55AM Eastern

Qualifications - Saturday, March 24th - 1:15PM-3:15PM

2011 Pole Sitter -#12 Will Power - 1:01.9625 / 104.579 MPH

2011 Winner - #10 Dario Franchitti

 

[Danicafan]

Track Layout..

 

[Toyota11]

Now lets just hope we don't have the same start to the race as last year.

 

[Danicafan]

Now lets just hope we don't have the same start to the race as last year.

Yeah, the first race of the season is always an interesting one. Everyone getting settled in and used to racing again.

This year could be interesting.. We have a new car and some new drivers and teams. Definitely will be fun to watch.

 

[Danicafan]

Here are the pit lane assignments..

 

[Danicafan]

Here is the entry list..

 

[Pier39er]

I believe the playing field in IndyCar will be more even this year because of the new DW12 chassis

 

[Danicafan]

I believe the playing field in IndyCar will be more even this year because of the new DW12 chassis

I agree and with the majority of road courses on the schedule. The past few years, the road courses would have the smaller budget teams compete fairly well against Penske, Ganassi, and Andretti. It was the ovals where the top 3 dominated.

 

[tf330fan]

I agree and with the majority of road courses on the schedule. The past few years, the road courses would have the smaller budget teams compete fairly well against Penske, Ganassi, and Andretti. It was the ovals where the top 3 dominated.

Really? Penske/Ganassi won every road course but one last year. The one was an Andretti car with Conway. We had six different winning drivers on the ovals, including Ed Carpenter and Dan at INDY. Andretti had two oval wins with Marco and Hunter-Reay. Looks like the ovals were more competitive to me. Until it is proven different, Penske/Ganassi are still the favorites to win everything.

 

[Deevs09]

I'm just hoping that the whole year goes smoothly than last year. Everything was crazy and I know that the series has a lot to prove this year after what I call last year a "sad season" among the overall series.

 

[Danicafan]

Really? Penske/Ganassi won every road course but one last year. The one was an Andretti car with Conway. We had six different winning drivers on the ovals, including Ed Carpenter and Dan at INDY. Andretti had two oval wins with Marco and Hunter-Reay. Looks like the ovals were more competitive to me. Until it is proven different, Penske/Ganassi are still the favorites to win everything.

You obviously didnt follow practice, qualifications, and the race. I wasnt talking about wins specifically. Over the past few years, smaller teams were very competitive on road/street courses.

Last year, Oriol Servia and James Hinchcliffe did very well for Newman Haas. TK did good at KV Racing. Alex Tagliani looked good. And Justin Wilson was doing well until he got injured.

 

[tf330fan]

You obviously didnt follow practice, qualifications, and the race. I wasnt talking about wins specifically. Over the past few years, smaller teams were very competitive on road/street courses.

Last year, Oriol Servia and James Hinchcliffe did very well for Newman Haas. TK did good at KV Racing. Alex Tagliani looked good. And Justin Wilson was doing well until he got injured.

Obviously, I didn't follow practice...it doesn't matter. Qualifying...really matters on road courses...watched some. The race, yeah, never bothered......right. Sorry I don't share your optimism for the coming season but the lack of ovals is eventually going to kill the series IMHO. Penske/Ganassi still rule until proven otherwise even with a sprinkle of impressive runs by a few others.

 

[Danicafan]

Obviously, I didn't follow practice...it doesn't matter. Qualifying...really matters on road courses...watched some. The race, yeah, never bothered......right. Sorry I don't share your optimism for the coming season but the lack of ovals is eventually going to kill the series IMHO. Penske/Ganassi still rule until proven otherwise even with a sprinkle of impressive runs by a few others.

I agree wholeheartedly on the lack of ovals. I hate it. I too, think that isnt good. The series (IRL) was founded on ovals, therefore I think the majority of the schedule should be run on ovals.

 

[Danicafan]

Weather today for their first practice....

Currently 72 degrees, will get to 83. Chance of rain only 20%. Looks good.

 

[Danicafan]

Justin Wilson is currently P1 in this first practice session with a time of 1:03.6704.

 

[Danicafan]

Here are the results of Practice Session 1

1. #9 Scott Dixon - 1:03.0406 - Honda
2. #2 Ryan Briscoe - 1:03.5190 - Chevrolet
3. #12 Will Power - 1:03.5747 - Chevrolet
4. #10 Dario Franchitti - 1:03.6013 - Honda
5. #77 Simon Pagenaud - 1:03.6417 - Honda
6. #18 Justin Wilson - 1:033.6704 - Honda
7. #26 Marco Andretti -1:03.7928 - Chevrolet
8. #14 Mike Conway - 1:03.8333 - Honda
9. #38 Graham Rahal - 1:03.8522 - Honda
10. #3 Helio Castroneves -1:03.8728 - Chevrolet
11. #67 Josef Newgarden - 1:03.8772 - Honda
12. #5 EJ Viso - 1:03.9142 - Chevrolet
13. #19 James Jakes - 1:03.9634 - Honda
14. #4 JR Hildebrand - 1:04.0914 - Chevrolet
15. #15 Takuma Sato - 1:04.1072 - Honda
16. #27 James Hinchcliffe - 1:04.1079 - Chevrolet
17. #28 Ryan Hunter-Reay - 1:04.1239 - Chevrolet
18. #11 Tony Kanaan - 1:04.1404 - Chevrolet
19. #22 Oriol Servia - 1:04.2946 - Lotus
20. #98 Alex Tagliani - 1:04.3861 - Lotus
21. #7 Sebastien Bourdais -1:04.4874 - Lotus
22. #83 Charlie Kimball - 1:04.6632 - Honda
23. #78 Simona De Silvestro - 1:04.9147 - Lotus
24. #8 Rubens Barrichello - 1:05.6681 - Chevrolet
25. #20 Ed Carpenter - 1:06.0310 - Chevrolet
26. #6 Katherine Legge - 1:07.3331 - Lotus​

 

[Danicafan]

Here are the results of Practice Session 2..

1. #12 Will Power - 1:02.0077 -Chevrolet - 7 laps
2. #2 Ryan Briscoe - 1:02.0931 -Chevrolet - 17 laps
3. #10 Dario Franchitti - 1:02.2232 -Honda - 20 laps
4. #38 Graham Rahal - 1:02.2924 -Honda - 23 laps
5. #9 Scott Dixon - 1:02.3117 -Honda 16 laps
6. #3 Helio Castroneves - 1:02.3190 - Chevrolet 13 laps
7. #27 James Hinchcliffe - 1:02.46322 - Chevrolet -25 laps
8. #11 Tony Kanaan - 1:02.4814 - Chevrolet - 20 laps
9. #28 Ryan Hunter-Reay -1:02.5301 -Chevrolet - 18 laps
10. #14 Mike Conway - 1:02.5337 - Honda - 17 laps
11. #26 Marco Andretti - 1:02.5624 - Chevrolet - 24 laps
12. #77 Simon Pagenaud- 1:02.5997- Honda - 10 laps
13. #4 JR Hildebrand - 1:02.7683 - Chevrolet - 26 laps
14. #67 Josef Newgarden - 1:02.7838 -Honda - 24 laps
15. #18 Justin Wilson - 1:02.8915 - Honda - 19 laps
16. #78 Simona De Silvestro - 1:02.9136 - Lotus - 21 laps
17. #18 James Jakes - 1:02.9152 - Honda - 24 laps
18. #15 Takuma Sato - 1:02.9594 - Honda - 21 laps
19. #7 Sebastien Bourdais - 1:02.9778 - Lotus - 22 laps
20. #5 EJ Viso - 1:02.9857 -Chevrolet - 19 laps
21. #83 Charlie Kimball - 1:03.0904 - Honda - 22 laps
22. #98 Alex Tagliani - 1:03.1812 - Lotus - 24 laps
23. #8 Rubens Barrichello - 1:03.3290 - Chevrolet - 25 laps
24. #22 Oriol Servia - 1:03.3535 - Lotus - 10 laps
25. #20 Ed Carpenter - 1:04.6031 - Chevrolet - 12 laps
26. #6 Katherine Legge - 1:04.7592 - Lotus - 23 laps​

 

[Danicafan]

Simon Pagenaud given a 10 place penalty on the starting grid for his team making an engine change afterr Friday's practice.

 

[Danicafan]

Tristan Vautier just took pole in the Indy Lights Series qualifying that just ended. His lap time was a 1:06.4550.