Morning comes early at the street circuit at St. Petersburg and things are bustling, getting ready for day two of the Honda Grand Prix. The sun is coming up over the harbor, teams are unpacking and setting up. In the IZOD IndyCar paddock, teams are pushing their cars through the line for Scrutineering. In the support paddock, cars are getting ready for their morning sessions.
The weather is definitely overcast but away from the harbor, the temperature is quite mild and fresh – from a slight breeze and the drying tarmac after Friday night’s rain.
It’s a nice, long walk from inside the track in the Media Center, over the Honda Bridge to the support paddock, which seems to go on for miles.
By the time IndyCar has its third and last practice, the Cooper Tires USF2000 Series and the Pro Mazda Championship Series will have held their Qualifying sessions for races later in the day.
The Pirelli World Challenge Series had its qualifying late Friday afternoon, for its late Saturday afternoon race. ALEX FIGGE/K-PAX Racing Volvo S60 took the GT and overall pole position, with a lap of 1:15.686/85.616 mph. It was tough and go for GT pole position, with Figge besting JAMES SOFRONAS/GMG/Mobil 1 Audi R8 LMS. Fifteen of the 40 WC cars are in the GT category. In the larger GTS group, JACK BALDWIN/Motul/Stoptech Invoice Prep Porsche Cayman S took pole in a frantic competition. The long-time veteran racer lapped the 1.98-mile street circuit at 1:20.467/80.530, a record break time. Outside front row driver, ANDY LEE/Best IT Chevrolet Camaro and third-placed GTS driver, PETER CUNNINGHAM/Acura/HPD/RealTime Racing Acura TSX were faster than the existing track record. Baldwin’s log-time buddy, BUZZ McCALL/GT Sport Racing with Goldcrest Porsche Cayman S came out of a long retirement to run the race. Alas, his day ended with a hard hit to the Turn Three wall. McCall was alright, but the car was night. It was determined too damaged to repair for Saturday’s race.