Verizon IndyCar Series Ready to Rumble at St Pete
2015 Indy 500 and St. Pete Grand Prix winner Juan Montoya (Photo courtesy Verizon IndyCar Series)
Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg – Friday Greeting
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – RIS – Welcome to St. Pete and the first Verizon IndyCar Series race of the season. Are you ready for some fun in the sun? Will 2015 Indianapolis 500 winner Juan Montoya make it two victories in a row on the Streets of St. Petersburg? A victory at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg over his arch-rival Scott Dixon, of Target Chip Ganassi Racing, would be sweet but small compensation for the Columbian’s IndyCar championship loss to Dixon in the last race of the 2015 season. Dixon, from Auckland New Zealand, won the 2015 Verizon IndyCar championship by his victory in the season-ending GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma. That victory tied Montoya in points but Dixon earned the championship by driving to more race wins during the season. Dixon, a four-time IndyCar champion and Indy 500 winner has never won at St. Pete.
Montoya’s teammate Will Power holds the qualifying lap record at 106.841 mph set last year. The Australian won the 2015 Verizon P1 Award at 106.676 mph in the Firestone Fast Six.
Four Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidates will make their first star at St. Petersburg. Rookies only to IndyCar. These young drivers are experienced in other motorsport series:
No. 8 Chevrolet, Max Chilton, Reigate England, Gallagher Chip Ganassi Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (35 Formula 1 starts).
No. 16 Honda, Spencer Pigot, Orlando, Florida, RLL Andersen Promotions, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (2015 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires champion) (Has won five times at St. Pete in support series).
No. 18 Honda, Connor Daly, Noblesville, Indiana, Jonathan Byrd’s Hospitality, Dale Coyne Racing (GP2, several IndyCar starts).
No. 98 Honda, Alexander Rossi, Nevada City California, Andretti Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian (GP2, several Formula 1 starts).
Streaming practice today.
Streaming qualifying Saturday
Race on ABC Sunday.
Dave Chess
Dave Chess has been writing for RIS since the late 1980s during the CompuServe days. His work has also appeared in Auto Week magazine, Chicago Gearhead News newspaper, ATA airlines in-flight magazine, National Speed Sport News and on many websites.