TAKUMO SATO/ABC Supply A.J.Foyt Racing Honda was first overall and the fastest Honda in the third practice session for the IOD IndyCar Series at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Sato’s time1:01.5293/1-5.316 mph. This marked the first time so far this weekend that a Honda-powered car was on top.
However, in the combine results of all three sessions show that Sato, who was second fastest overall, was the lone Honda among the top ten drivers.
As practice sessions are just that – practice, some don’t put much stock on the placings in such sessions. But, there’s something to be said for bragging rights or ego to have your name in P1. Among those who had that honor Saturday morning were TONY KANAAN/Hydroxycut KVRT-SH Racing Chevrolet, WILL POWER/Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, SIMONA de SILVESTRO/Nuclear Entergy Areva KVRT Chevrolet, MARCO ANDRETTI/RC Cola Andretti Autosport Chevrolet, and JAMES HINCHCIFFE/GoDady.com Andretti Autosport Chevrolet.
E.J. VISO/Team Venezuela/Andretti Autosport Chevolet broke his suspension and hit the wall hard, leaving a wake of debris, causing a Red Flag. Viso was alright. The car will need work, but it is looking better and should be ready for Qualifying. In an earlier Red Flag incident, the cars of ANA BEATRIZ/Dale Coyne Racing Honda and JOSEF NEWGARDEN/Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Honda had a brush together, putting them both in the Runoff area, but their cars are alright as are the drivers.
IndyCar Qualifying will be at 2:05pm EDT. For the first time at the season’s opener race, Qualifying will air ‘live’ starting at 2:30pm EDT on NBC Sports. The show will run sixty minutes.