A look at some statistics from the first three races of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series with the new Dallara chassis and engine package from three manufacturers vs. 2011. No winner has started from the pole -- a span of four races dating to Ed Carpenter at Kentucky Speedway in October:
Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
1.8-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit
Helio Castroneves, winner
|
2012
|
Race
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2011
|
|
9 (7 drivers)
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Lead Changes
|
3 (2 drivers)
|
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3 (15 laps)
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Cautions/Laps
|
5 (13 laps)
|
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5.52.sec.
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Winning Margin
|
7.16 sec.
|
|
11.78 sec.
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Top-5 Spread
|
29.94 sec.
|
|
103.225
|
Fastest Lap
|
101.459
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Of note: Helio Castroneves wins from the fifth starting position in the No. 3 Shell V-Power/Pennzoil Ultra Team Penske car. ... Thirteen cars are on the lead lap. ... Eighteen of the 26 cars are running at the finish.
Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama
2.36-mile, 17-turn road course
Will Power, winner
|
2012
|
Race
|
2011
|
|
9 (5 drivers)
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Lead Changes
|
0 *
|
|
2 (10)
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Cautions/Laps
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6 (20)
|
|
3.3709 sec.
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Winning Margin
|
3.3828 sec.
|
|
20.1050
|
Top-5 Spread
|
29.8817
|
|
114.379
|
Fastest Lap
|
112.094
|
Of note: Will Power wins from the ninth starting position in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car. ... Scott Dixon is runner-up for the third consecutive year and second race in a row in 2012. ... Seventeen cars are on the lead lap. ... Twenty-three of the 26 cars are running at the finish. ... * Power led all 90 laps.
Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit
Will Power, winner
|
2012
|
Race
|
2011
|
|
9 (7 drivers)
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Lead Changes
|
7 (6 drivers)
|
|
3 (12)
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Cautions/Laps
|
3 (12)
|
|
0.8675 sec.
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Winning Margin
|
6.3203
|
|
22.9947
|
Top-5 Spread
|
16.0177
|
|
102.154
|
Fastest Lap
|
100.266
|
Of note: Will Power wins from the 12th starting position in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car. ... Simon Pagenaud records best IZOD IndyCar Series finish in second. ... Seven cars are on the lead lap. ... Nineteen of the 26 cars are running at the finish.