Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg/

Indy Pro Series Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

FAST FACTS

WHAT:

IndyCar® Series: Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, second race in 17-race 2007 season

Indy Pro Series™: Indy Pro Series Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, second and third races in 16-race 2007 season

WHERE:

Streets of St. Petersburg, 14-turn, 1.8-mile temporary street course

WHEN:

IndyCar Series: 2:45 p.m. (ET), Sunday, April 1

Indy Pro Series: 

Race 1: 2:50 p.m. (ET), Saturday, April 1

Race 2: 11:30 a.m. (ET),Sunday, April 1

DISTANCE:

IndyCar Series: 100 laps/181 miles

Indy Pro Series: 40 laps/72 miles (each race)

POSTED AWARDS:

IndyCar Series: More than $1 million

Indy Pro Series: More than $365,000 (combined races)

CARS:

IndyCar Series: Dallara chassis; Honda Indy V-8; Firestone tires;

100 percent fuel-grade ethanol

Indy Pro Series: Dallara chassis; Firestone tires

PREVIOUS RACE WINNERS:

IndyCar Series: Dan Wheldon (2005), Helio Castroneves (2006)

Indy Pro Series: Marco Andretti (2005), Raphael Matos (2006, both races)

2006 SERIES CHAMPIONS:

IndyCar Series: Sam Hornish Jr.

Indy Pro Series: Jay Howard

TV:

IndyCar Series: 

Race: ESPN (live), 2:30 p.m. (ET), April 1

Talent: Marty Reid, Scott Goodyear, (announcers); Jack Arute, Brienne Pedigo, Vince Welch (pit reporters)

Note: Live streaming video coverage of IndyCar Series Pole Qualifying (12:45 p.m., (ET) March 31) is available at www.indycar.com

TV:

Indy Pro Series: 

Race: ESPN2 (tape-delay), 4:30 p.m. (ET), April 6

Talent: Bob Jenkins, Robbie Buhl (announcers); Mike King (pit reporter)

Note: Live streaming video coverage of the SWE Race Car Parts Pole Qualifying (9 a.m. and 11:05 a.m.  March 23) and the Indy Pro Series Grand Prix of St. Petersburg doubleheader (2:30 p.m. (ET) March 31 and 11:30 a.m. (ET) April 1)  is available at www.indycar.com

RADIO:

IndyCar Series: Pre-race: IMS Radio Network (live), 2 p.m. (ET), April 1

Race: IMS Radio Network (live), 2:45 p.m. (ET), April 1

Talent: Mike King (host); Davey Hamilton (analyst); Dave Wilson (color commentary); Jerry Baker, Mark Jaynes, Bob Jenkins (turns); Kevin Lee, Patrick Stephan (pit reporters); Kevin Olson (special assignments)

Note: Live coverage of IndyCar Series Pole Qualifying (12:45 p.m. ET, March 31) and the XM Satellite Radio Indy 300 are available at www.indycar.com and XM Satellite Radio channel 144 “XM Sports Nation.”

SCHEDULE (all times local; subject to change):

Friday, March 30

8 a.m. IndyCar Series and Indy Pro Series garages opens

9:35 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. Indy Pro Series practice (two groups)

10:40 a.m. – 12:40 p.m. IndyCar Series practice (all cars)

3:35 p.m. – 4:05 p.m. Indy Pro Series practice (all cars)

4:25 – 5:30 p.m. IndyCar Series practice (two groups)

Saturday, March 31

8 a.m. IndyCar Series and Indy Pro Series garages opens

9 – 9:30 a.m. Indy Pro Series Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

SWE Race Car Parts Pole Qualifying Session 1 (all cars, European-style)

9:45 – 10:50 a.m. IndyCar Series practice (two groups)

11:05 – 11:35 a.m. Indy Pro Series Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

SWE Race Car Parts Pole Qualifying Session 2 (all cars, European-style)

12:45 – 2:15 p.m. IndyCar Series Pole Qualifying (Single-car, single lap and Firestone Fast Six)

2:50 p.m. Indy Pro Series Grand Prix of St. Petersburg #1 (40 laps/72 miles),

ESPN2 (4:30 p.m., April 6)

Sunday, April 1

7 a.m. Indy Pro Series garages opens

8 a.m. IndyCar Series garage opens

8:30 – 8:40 a.m. Indy Pro Series warmup

10:15 – 10:45 a.m. IndyCar Series warmup

11:30 a.m. Indy Pro Series Grand Prix of St. Petersburg #2 (40 laps/72 miles),

ESPN2 (4:30 p.m., April 6)

2:45 p.m. Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (100 laps/181 miles), ESPN & IMS Radio Network (live)

THE TRACK:

1.8-mile temporary street course; varying in width from 26-63 feet wide

Mainstraight: 2,413 feet

Backstretch: 1,940 feet

Turns: 14

•The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is operated by Andretti Green Promotions. The course, which was used by the IndyCar Series for the first time in 2005, utilizes several public streets in downtown St. Petersburg, including stretches of 1st Street South, Central Aveune and Bay Shore Drive, and a runway at Albert Whitted Airport.

INDY-STYLE RACING IN ST. PETERSBURG:

 Florida’s western coast is not a stranger to auto racing competition. Plant Field was located at the site of the old Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa from 1921-1980. IMCA and USAC sanctioned many races at Plant Field before it became part of the Tampa University Athletic Field. The grandstands from the race track were used for the universities’ athletic facilities.

 From 1985 through 1990 and again from 1995-1996, St. Petersburg played host to SCCA Trans-Am Series racing. Among the winners of those events were: Indianapolis 500 starters Willy T. Ribbs, Pete Halsmer and Scott Pruett.

 In 2003, the streets of downtown St. Petersburg hosted open-wheel racing for the first time when CART raced on a temporary street course, which incorporated the downtown area’s waterfront.

 In September 2004, the Indy Racing League announced its intentions to race the same course at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on April 3, 2005. It was the first IndyCar Series event not to take place on an oval.

INDYCAR SERIES NOTES:

•Four Indianapolis 500 champions are expected to participate in the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg: Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002), Buddy Rice (2004), Dan Wheldon (2005) and Sam Hornish Jr. (2006).

•Five IndyCar Series champions are scheduled to participate in the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg: Scott Sharp (1996 co-champion), Sam Hornish Jr. (2001, 2002, 2006), Scott Dixon (2003), Tony Kanaan (2004) and Dan Wheldon (2005).

•Drivers entered in the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg as of March 26 have combined for 73 IndyCar Series victories, 68 pole positions and 961 starts.

•The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will be the third IndyCar Series event conducted on the streets of St. Petersburg. Dan Wheldon was the inaugural winner in 2005 and Helio Castroneves won in 2006. Previous road and street course winners in the IndyCar Series are: Dan Wheldon (St. Petersburg, 2005), Tony Kanaan (Infineon, 2005), Scott Dixon (Watkins Glen, 2005, 2006), Helio Castroneves (St. Petersburg, 2006) and Marco Andretti (Infineon, 2006).

INDY PRO SERIES NOTES:

• Camara is series ‘Iron man’: Miami resident Jaime Camara has made 27 consecutive Indy Pro Series starts entering race weekend. Camara competed for Sam Schmidt Motorsports in 2005 and for Andretti Green Racing in 2006. He returns in the AGR entry in 2007. Camara can tie Arie Luyendyk Jr.’s all-time mark for consecutive starts (31) at Milwaukee on June 2.

• 15 rookies in the field: As of March 26, 15 rookies are entered for the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Sixteen rookies took the green flag at Michigan and Kentucky in the Indy Pro Series’ inaugural season of 2002.

INDYCAR SERIES STORY IDEAS:

• Wheldon goes for three-in-a-row: St. Petersburg resident Dan Wheldon goes for his third-straight IndyCar Series win at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Wheldon, who won  the inaugural Honda Grand Prix at St. Petersburg, claimed wins at Chicagoland to end the 2006 season and the 2007 season-opening race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

• Sarah hits the streets: Sarah Fisher, who will contest the full IndyCar Series season with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, makes her road/street course debut at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Fisher won four karting titles as a young driver and teamed with her fiancé Andy O’Gara to win another endurance karting event in the off-season.

• Watch for the “Fast Six”: In 2005, the Indy Racing League introduced a unique road/street course qualifying procedure in which the race for the pole began when the cars hit the track. All cars participated in the initial practice session of race weekend, with the times determining the two groups that will be used in the remaining pre-qualifying practice session. Friday's combined practice times determine the qualifying order, with the driver posting the fastest time having the option of driving first or last in single-lap qualifying. At the conclusion of single-lap qualifying the fastest six cars will participate in a 10-minute, European-style session to determine the first three rows. 

• 100 Percent Fuel-Grade Ethanol: During the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, all IndyCar Series competitors will employ the 3.5-liter Honda Indy V-8 engine fueled by 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol. The IndyCar Series is the first in motorsports to embrace a renewable fuel source. Ethanol is an environmentally-friendly fuel, distilled from high-starch crops (primarily corn) grown in the United States. During his State of the Union address in February, President Bush emphasized the need for a significant increase in ethanol production. Learn about the changes made to prepare cars for the switch to 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol and how the IndyCar Series is helping promote the message of renewable fuels.

• Marco Andretti’s Sophomore Season: Marco Andretti capped off his IndyCar Series rookie campaign with a win at Infineon Raceway in 2006, making him the youngest driver to win a major Indy car race.  This season, Marco returns with team Andretti Green Racing, looking to capitalize on last season’s momentum. During the off-season, Marco spent his time focusing on his physical fitness, preparing for the diverse IndyCar Series schedule. Can Marco pick up where he left off last year and make it into Victory Lane at St. Pete?

The Return of Darren Manning: After a brief hiatus from IndyCar Series racing, Darren Manning returns to competition behind the wheel of the No. 14 ABC Supply Co. Honda-powered Dallara for A.J. Foyt Racing, under the watchful eye of legendary team owner A.J. Foyt and team director Larry Foyt. Manning finished ninth in the 2005 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, driving for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, and also competed in the inaugural Champ Car race in the city.

Top Five Point Finishers Return: Last season produced one the closest driver championship battles in IndyCar Series history, with four competitors eligible for the title going into the final race separated by 21 points. The top five finishers return with the same teams, looking for to repeat their success. Find out how Sam Hornish Jr., Dan Wheldon, Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon and Vitor Meira plan to carry the momentum in the 2007 season.

Faces in New Places: An off-season game of musical chairs has produced an interesting lineup of driver-team pairings for the 2007 IndyCar Series campaign:

• After two years of IndyCar Series competition with Rahal Letterman Racing, Danica Patrick moves to Andretti Green Racing looking for her first career win. Patrick joins the team’s returning lineup of Marco Andretti, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan.

• 1996 IndyCar Series co-champion Scott Sharp joins Rahal Letterman Racing for his 12th season of competition. Sharp, the IndyCar Series’ “Ironman,” has made 129 starts and scored nine victories, including just up the road at Walt Disney World Speedway.

• Panther Racing expands to a two-car effort with the addition of Kosuke Matsuura, the 2004 Bombardier Rookie of the Year. Matsuura joins Vitor Meira, who finished fifth in the 2006 championship standings.

INDY PRO SERIES STORY IDEAS:

• Record-setting season unfolding: The 2007 season will be one of records for the Indy Pro Series. The season features a series-record 16 races on nine road courses and seven ovals, competitors will vie for a record amount of prize money – almost $4 million. A record 25 cars started the season-opening race at Homestead. Twenty-four are expected to compete at St. Petersburg.

• Home state advantage: Bobby Wilson, who has lived in Ocala the past several years working as an instructor at Ocala Gran Prix karting center, will compete in the first three races of 2007 in his adopted home state. Wilson finished sixth in the Miami 100 and will compete in the Indy Pro Series doubleheader at St. Petersburg. Wilson won last year at Watkins Glen and has moved into the Brian Stewart Racing car that has won the past two entrant championships.

• Homecoming: Former St. Petersburg resident Jay Howard returns to the city. Howard lived in St. Petersburg for a little more than a year before relocating to Indianapolis. Howard won the Indy Pro Series championship last season.

• Seven of top eight drivers return: Seven of the top eight drivers from last year’s championship return in 2007, including series champion Jay Howard, second-place finisher Jonathan Klein, Wade Cunningham, the 2005 series champion who missed repeating the feat by only 11 points, and Bobby Wilson, who finished fourth just 47 points out of first. Also returning are Jaime Camara (6th), Alex Lloyd (7th) and Chris Festa (8th).

• IndyCar Series influence: Four of the top IndyCar Series teams will field cars in the Indy Pro Series this season, including two for the first time. Andretti Green Racing returns for its third season in the series while Panther Racing returns for the first time since its championship-winning campaign in 2003. Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Rahal Letterman Racing enter the Indy Pro Series for the first time.

• More Florida ties: Several drivers and teams boast ties to Florida. Jaime Camara, driver of the No. 11 car, lives in Miami while Shane Lewis, driver of the No. 8 car, resides in Jupiter. Team KMA, a new entry to the Indy Pro Series, is based in Cape Coral.

• Let’s play two: The Indy Pro Series Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is the first of four doubleheader weekends slated for 2007. The competitors will first battle on Saturday afternoon. The top six finishers will be inverted for Sunday morning’s race (i.e. Saturday’s winner will start sixth Sunday and Saturday’s sixth-place finisher will start first). The starting order for Saturday’s race will be determined by the fastest speeds from two practice sessions Saturday.

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MILESTONES:

• Sam Hornish Jr. or Helio Castroneves can tie Scott Sharp’s IndyCar Series record for most consecutive seasons with at least one win should either win the XM Satellite Radio Indy 300. Sharp claimed at least one win from 1997-2003.

• Dan Wheldon became the 13th driver to win back-to-back IndyCar Series races at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He can tie the record he shares with Kenny Brack for most consecutive victories with a win at St. Petersburg.

• Scott Sharp needs one win to earn his 10th IndyCar Series victory and Sharp will attempt to extend his series record for consecutive starts to 122 straight races.

• Vitor Meira has gone 59 starts without a victory in the IndyCar Series, the longest drought of any IndyCar Series driver.

• A win by a driver from either Andretti Green Racing or Team Penske will break the tie the two teams have as the IndyCar Series’ winningest team.