2008 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg - Race Day

Sunday, April 06, 2008

#7 AGR driver Danica Patrick follows closely behin #23 Townsend Bell. -- Photo by: Jim Haines Rock legend Gene Simmons prior to start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney Rock legend Gene Simmons during pre-race activities. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney Miss America, Kirsten Haglund was the honorary race starter. -- Photo by: Chris Jones #18 Dale Coyne Racing driver Bruno Junqueira during driver introductions. -- Photo by: Chris Jones #15 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing driver Buddy Rice during driver introductions. -- Photo by: Chris Jones Newman Haas Lanigan driver #02 Justin Wilson during driver introductions. -- Photo by: Chris Jones Caravan of IndyCar Series drivers making their way around the St. Petersburg road course during driver introductions. -- Photo by: Chris Jones Justin Wilson, left, being interviewed prior to start of race with Will Power on right. -- Photo by: Chris Jones -- Photo by: Chris Jones AGR driver Marco Andretti receives the Firestone Tire-ific Award for $10,000. -- Photo by: Chris Jones #10 Target Chip Ganassi driver Dan Wheldon receives the Lincoln Welders Hard Charger Award. -- Photo by: Chris Jones AGR driver Tony Kanaan receives the Peak Motor Oil Pole Award. -- Photo by: Chris Jones National Anthem by: Captain Marcella Hopp -- Photo by: Chris Jones -- Photo by: Chris Jones #8 KV Racing Technology driver Will Power. -- Photo by: Chris Jones #17 Rahal Letterman Racing driver Ryan Hunter-Reay. -- Photo by: Chris Jones Wet start to Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Chris Jones #10 Target Chip Ganassi driver Dan Wheldon drives thru the rain early in the race. -- Photo by: Chris Jones #23 Dreyer & Reinbold driver Townsend Bell exits pit lane. -- Photo by: Chris Jones AGR driver #27 Hideki Mutoh during race pit stop. -- Photo by: Chris Jones No. 6 Ryan Briscoe in the pits during Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Chris Jones No. 33 HVM Racing driver, EJ Viso smiling at St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Chris Jones Race winner Newman Haas Lanigan driver Graham Rahal. -- Photo by: Jim Haines Marco Andretti hangs out with a fan after Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Jim Haines Drivers Marco Andretti,left, and Darren Manning prepare for driver introduction tour of road course. -- Photo by: Jim Haines #36 Enrique Bernoldi, left and #4 Vitor Meira make prepare for a trip around road course during driver introductions. -- Photo by: Jim Haines #5 Oriol Servia, left, and #10 Dan Wheldon make their way around road course during driver introductions. -- Photo by: Jim Haines Panther Racing driver #4 Vitor Meira makes his way around rain soaked road course. -- Photo by: Jim Haines #20 Vision Racing driver Ed Carpenter followed in close pursuit by #19 Mario Moraes. -- Photo by: Jim Haines AGR driver #11 Tony Kanaan leads a string of drivers around road course. -- Photo by: Jim Haines Two-wide as AGR driver #7 Danica Patrick squeezes past #24 Jay Howard with #23 Townsend Bell close behind. -- Photo by: Jim Haines #7 Danica Patrick gets the squeeze from #19 Mario Moraes. -- Photo by: Jim Haines No. 26 Marco Andretti, in the pits during warm up before the start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney Andretti Green Racing driver No. 27, Hideki Mutoh observing track activity before the start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney No. 20 Ed Carpenter, gets some fuel in the pits during warm up before the start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney Helio Castroneves hangs out in the pits before the start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney Darren Manning and A.J. Foyt hang out in the pits before the start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney Oriol Servia of KV Racing Technology observes track activity from the pits at St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney Franck Perera of Conquest Racing enjoys the sunshine before the start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney Newman Haas Lanigan driver of the #06, Graham Rahal. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney AGR driver Tony Kanaan talks with crew member prior to race. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney No. 20 Ed Carpenter, warming up on track before the start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Steve Snoddy No. 4 Vitor Meira, warming up on track before the start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Steve Snoddy No. 6 Ryan Briscoe, warming up on track before the start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Steve Snoddy No. 06 Graham Rahal, warming up on track before the start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Steve Snoddy No. 7 Danica Patrick, warms up on track before the start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Steve Snoddy No. 3 Helio Castroneves, warming up on track before the start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Steve Snoddy No. 26 Marco Andretti, warms up on track before the start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Steve Snoddy Dale Coyne Racing driver of the #18 Bruno Junqueira signs fans cap. -- Photo by: Chris Jones A.J Foyt IV, driver of the No. 2 Vision Racing car, taking it easy before the start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Chris Jones Panther Racing driver No. 4, Vitor Meira before the start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Chris Jones Mario Moraes, driver of the No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing car, relaxing before the start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Chris Jones Conquest Racing driver No. 36, Enrique Bernoldi at St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Chris Jones No. 4 Vitor Meira, warming up on track before the start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Chris Jones No. 17 Ryan Hunter-Reay, in the pits during warm up before the start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Chris Jones No. 25 Marty Roth, in the pits during warm up before the start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Chris Jones Andretti Green Racing driver No. 27, Hideki Mutoh observing track activity before the start of Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Chris Jones Ryan Briscoe signs an autograph for a lucky fan at St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Chris Jones AGR driver #7 Danica Patrick. -- Photo by: Jim Haines A jubilant Graham Rahal throws his fist in the air after parking his #06 Newman Haas Lanigan ride in Victory Lane. -- Photo by: Jim Haines #06 Newman Haas Lanigan driver Graham Rahal celebrates winning the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg along with being the youngest driver to win an IndyCar Series race. -- Photo by: Jim Haines Grand Prix of St. Petersburg race winner Graham Rahal being interviewed after race. -- Photo by: Jim Haines Wet start to Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney Early race traffic enters turn one. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney Drivers make their way thru a very wet turn one. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney #20 Vision Racing driver Ed Carpenter gets side-ways during race action. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney #20 Vision Racing driver Ed Carpenter makes his way back onto course. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney Crew member pushes-off water from pit lane prior to start of race. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney Enthusiastic St. Pete race fans cheer-on drivers during race action. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney Parachutist make their way down during opening ceremonies. -- Photo by: Chris Jones Race winner, Graham Rahal celebrates his first IndyCar Series victory. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney Graham Rahal, driver for Newman Haas Lanigan, now holds the record for being the youngest driver to win an IndyCar Series race. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney Podium finishers, Helio Castroneves, left, Graham Rahal, and Tony Kanaan. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney Race winner Graham Rahal, center poses with Firestone Firehawk, Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney Fireworks mark end of Grand Prix of St. Petersburg as winner Graham Rahal takes the checker flag. -- Photo by: Steve Snoddy Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg race winner Graham Rahal. -- Photo by: Steve Snoddy Race winner Graham Rahal, with dad Bobby on podium. -- Photo by: Steve Snoddy Graham Rahal takes the checker flag at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg becoming the youngest ever to win an IndyCar Series race. -- Photo by: Ron McQueeney Music plays for race fans during festivities. -- Photo by: Chris Jones Race fans listen to concert during pre-race festivities. -- Photo by: Chris Jones #34 driver Franck Perera signs a fans shirt prior to start of race. -- Photo by: Jim Haines A.J. Foyt IV prior to start of race. -- Photo by: Jim Haines A.J.Foyt racing driver Darren Manning talks with crew member prior to start of race. -- Photo by: Jim Haines Bobby Rahal, left, talks to Rahal Letterman Racing driver Ryan Hunter-Reay prior to start of race. -- Photo by: Jim Haines #11 AGR driver Tony Kanaan gets some assistance getting strapped in for start of race. -- Photo by: Jim Haines #36 car of Enrique Bernolda leads #11 Tony Kanaan and #10 Dan Wheldon. -- Photo by: Jim Haines #11 AGR driver Tony Kanaan. -- Photo by: Jim Haines