ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Graham Rahal's favorite color (at least for the day) is red.Here is the unofficial qualification order and best average lap speed for tomorrow's Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg, as provided by TrackSide Online into the email boxes of billions (give or take) of race fans like me.
Utilizing the new Firestone Racing alternate tires - heretofore known as the "reds" - played a role in the Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing driver setting another record on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street course.
Last April, making his IndyCar Series debut in the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Rahal became the youngest winner in major open-wheel racing history. On a sunny afternoon alongside Tampa Bay, he became the youngest pole winner in IndyCar Series history.
(MORE from IndyCar.com)
1. Graham Rahal 103.828 MPH
2. Justin Wilson 103.746
3. Tony Kanaan 103.629
4. Ryan Briscoe 103.564
5. Dario Franchitti 103.361
6. Will Power 103.289
7. Alex Tagliani 103.357
8. Scott Dixon 102.875
9. Raphael Matos 102.638
10. Darren Manning 102.364
11. Dan Wheldon 102.090
12. Mike Conway No Time (he had a bit of an accident)
13. Robert Doornbos 103.196
14. Ryan Hunter-Reay 102.821
15. Danica Patrick 103.141
16. EJ Viso 102.759
17. Vitor Meira 102.999
18. Marco Andretti 102.264
19. Hideki Mutoh 102.321
20. Mario Moraes 102.124
21. Stanton Barrett 97.307
22. Ed Carpenter 100.869
Pretty close speeds, eh? Remember - you can catch all of the qualification action from this morning on VERSUS today at 5pm ET. Unless, of course, you don't have VERSUS, in which case you have my deepest sympathies.
Young Rahal proves he LOVES St. Pete!!! He has been addicted to the no. 1 position on the time sheets most of the weekend!
Concrats to Justin Wilson too... Good for Coyne as well Since Bobby D's Dallara is self sponsored... WHY did NHL dump Justin? The combo of Rahal & Wilson might have been Team 4 for the IRL's Big 3???
The blogger karma has lifted him ... He embraced The Force, and The Force was with him.
Unless N/H/L and Dale Coyne raise their games on the ovals, there will be no true "Big 4" this season. In my view, that's what the league needs...potential sponsors have got to see a stronger grid from top-to-bottom.
We'll see if 2009 will play out as such, but I have more faith in that happening this year than in the past.
Absolutely agree, Chris. Parody is what brings out interest and that brings out sponsors.
This is my departure from the tech talk to goofy observations. When I checked out the G. Rahal website it greeted me with a smiling Ohio driver in a RED McDonald's NHL fire suit made by Puma.
Today, watching his post-qualifying interview I saw Graham wearing a WHITE firesuit made by Impact. Contracts change that fast?
Anyone know about Arctic Ice sponsorship? First I thought it was Milka's $$$ then perhaps Doornbos deal , but his car is blank (except for NHL decals).