2013 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg 2013 took place on 24 March in the Streets of St. Petersburg in Saint Petersburg, Florida, United States place and was the first race of the IndyCar Series season 2013.
- 3.1 qualifying
- 3.2 race 3.2.1 guiding portions
- 3.2.2 yellow phase
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
Reports
Background
The race distance was extended for ten rounds in the previous year. For a two-stop strategy with saving fuel was no longer feasible.
When Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg drivers were a total of 150 seconds to use the push-to -pass button. The overtaking was allowed to be activated ten times in the race.
After the withdrawal of Lotus as engine suppliers existed in the IndyCar Series in 2013 a duel between Chevrolet and Honda.
Tristan Vautier debuted at this Grand Prix for Peterson Schmidt Motorsports in the IndyCar Series. Ana Beatriz (Dale Coyne Racing) and Sebastien Bourdais (Dragon Racing) went back to the cockpit. James Jakes ( Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing), Graham Rahal ( Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing ), Sebastian Saavedra (Dragon Racing), Takuma Satō (AJ Foyt Enterprises), Simona de Silvestro (KV Racing Technology ) and EJ Viso (Team Venezuela / Andretti Autosport / HVM ) occurred for the first time on their new teams.
With Hélio Castroneves (three times), Rahal, Will Power and Dario Franchitti ( once each ) went four former winners in this Grand Prix at the start.
Training
In the first session of the season defending champion Ryan Hunter -Reay drove the fastest time ahead of his teammate James Hinchcliffe and Power. In the second session, which was also held on Friday, the day's best Power posted by Hunter -Reay and de Silvestro. In both Friday practice were 10 eight Chevrolet and two Honda drivers in the top.
In the third session was with Satō first time a Honda Pilot at the top of the time classifications. In second place followed before Power Hinchcliffe.
Qualifying
The first part of the session was held in two groups. The six fastest drivers in each group came to the second segment. The remaining starting positions were determined from the result of the first Qualifyingabschnitts, where the drivers of the first group, the odd positions from 13, and the drivers of the second group were assigned to the even positions from 14. In the second group at the end no more time improvement was possible because Jake had thrown in a curve 10 Honda Sponsors Banner on track. In the first group Castroneves set the fastest lap in the second group was the fastest pilot power.
In the second segment of qualifying, the six fastest riders qualified for the final section. Power posted the fastest lap time. Next to him made it Satō, de Silvestro, Castroneves, Hinchcliffe and Vautier in the third part of qualifying, the so-called Firestone Fast Six.
Power finally posted the fastest time and achieved the pole position before Satō and de Silvestro. It was the fourth pole position of power in a row in Saint Petersburg and 30 IndyCar pole of his career.
Final training
In the final training Hunter -Reay drove the fastest lap. Second was Charlie Kimball Scott Dixon.
Race
When starting power maintained the lead before Satō, Hinchcliffe, Castroneves and de Silvestro. Power broke away in the early stages of the rest of the field. On lap 14, the first pit stops began. First, the pilot went from the rear panel to the box. In the 19th round Franchitti completed his stop. With cold tires he made a mistake and came on the rubber abrasion. Thus he lost control of his vehicle, slid into the wall and retired. This accident caused a caution period in which the remaining pilots went to the box. This Power retained the lead. Castroneves was in second place.
At the restart Castroneves overtook a teammate Power and took the lead. Behind the two exchanged Hinchcliffe and Satō places. In the back of the pack, there was a brief route blockade, as several drivers in the eighth curve clashed. All pilots went on, however. JR Hildebrand, who was involved in the blockade was finally shot in the tenth curve of Saavedra, whereby a second yellow flag was thrown. In this Simon Pagenaud gave up with exhaust problems.
At the restart Hinchcliffe went to power into second place. Behind the leading trio lost Satō, who had tire pressure problems, in quick succession two positions on de Silvestro and Vautier. Castroneves failed to settle at the top. The first four drivers were close together, Vautier went for between the leading quartet and Satō, who led a group of seven vehicles led.
In the 45th round, there was a yellow phase, because of debris in the curve were 14. In the yellow phase most of the pilots stopped one more time. Oriol Servia, among other aspects outside and took over the lead from Castroneves and thereby power, who had gone over to the box to Hinchcliffe. In the yellow phase Josef Newgarden remained with clutch problems and that was eliminated, so that the yellow phase lasted longer. Shortly after the restart difference also Beatriz with technical problems.
At the restart Hinchcliffe overtook again power and Vautier walked past de Silvestro. In the 62nd round of Servia drove into the pits. It was a technical problem and did not engage a gear in the situation. A little later Hunter-Reay was a similar problem longer in the pits. Both riders went with several laps back on the track. Servia finished the race, Hunter -Reay, finally gave up. In the 70th round Vautier, who drove consistently in the top 6 different, from technical problems to the box. A few laps later, Saavedra went to the tenth curve into the tire wall, which ended his race. This accident caused a caution period. In this, the drivers completed their final pit stops. During the caution period Hildebrand drove over the car of power. Here Powers right mirror and his right rear tire was damaged. For Hildebrand, the race was over, power came several times to stops for repairs to the box, but remained on the lead lap.
At the restart Castroneves made a mistake and slipped on the outer layer. This allowed Hinchcliffe past him in the lead go. De Silvestro retained the third position. Your teammate Tony Kanaan went past Marco Andretti and Dixon and took fourth place. Power made in midfield first a few positions well, but finally went with problems in the run-off area and came up with several laps to the finish.
While Hinchcliffe and Castroneves deposed at the top, held de Silvestro, taking down their rear tire strong, more drivers on. De Silvestro used in the final stage of a used set of tire compound 's note your teammate Canaan but they did not attack. In the 105th lap Andretti walked past Canaan, and finally sat de Silvestro under pressure. In the penultimate round de Silvestro came into the last turn too far to the outside, whereby Andretti and Kanaan to get passed her. One lap later, de Silvestro had in the last corner again a problem and was overtaken by Dixon.
Hinchcliffe finally won the race and achieved his first IndyCar victory ahead of Castroneves and Andretti. The top 10 was completed by Kanaan, Dixon, de Silvestro, Viso, Satō, Justin Wilson and Alex Tagliani.
It was the first IndyCar victory of a Canadian since Paul Tracy's victory in the Champ Car Series Grand Prix of Cleveland 2007. Hinchcliffe became the 207th driver to win an IndyCar race.
Hinchcliffe dedicated his first win of the 2011 fatalities Dan Wheldon. Wheldon lived in Saint Petersburg and was originally intended for the vehicle, which now Hinchcliffe drove.
Message list
All teams and drivers used the chassis Dallara DW12 with an aero kit from Dallara and a Firestone tire.
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Classifications
Qualifying
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Race
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Guide sections
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Yellow phases
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Points standings after the race
Drivers' championship
The scoring is explained here.