ST. Petersburg, Fla.- Two former Champ Car World Series drivers qualified in the top three for today’s Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, ensuring that the Indy Racing League’s IndyCar Series is, at least on a street course, together in terms of speed.
Will Power, who qualified second to 2004 IndyCar champion Tony Kanaan, and No. 3 qualifier Justin Wilson stood in amazement Saturday at the downtown circuit. Progress in this series has been quicker to see than either could have imagined.
“It’s kind of what we hoped for, but not what we expected,” said Wilson, who drives for Newman Haas Lanigan Racing. That team won the final four Champ Car titles with Sebastien Bourdais, who is now in Formula One. “To be competitive (right) away is a dream come true.”
Said Power: “I was going to be disappointed if I was not in the top 10 . . . but I’m not sure I expected (the front row).”
The final session belonged to Kanaan, who posted a lap of 1 minute, 2.5322 seconds, but he is taking nothing for granted in today’s 100-lap race.
Indy Star
Sitting on stage Saturday after qualifying for the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Tony Kanaan and Helio Castroneves looked to their left and there, appearing quite comfortable in their new surroundings, were former Champ Car drivers Will Power and Justin Wilson.
“I guess we better get used to this,” said longtime IRL IndyCar Series star Castroneves, the two-time defending winner of the St. Pete street race.
While former IRL champion Kanaan won the pole in IndyCar’s new grueling three-session qualifying format, Power took the outside spot on the front row and Wilson was third, sharing the second row with Castroneves. Ryan Briscoe was fifth and Ryan Hunter-Reay sixth on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn downtown circuit.
Nwi Times
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