Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

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Originally Posted by vintage

In the first group, which would be expected to be slower, three drivers went faster than Simona, so it's not like the girl hit it out of the park here. Based on times she's 17th. You should re-register as Simona Fan, as it's just as ridiculous to make her the hero here as making Danica the hero.

I'm confused how the women seem to develop this deep devotion.

I'm even more confused on why Matos did so poorly.

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I think you are confused, Simona isn't being complimented due to her being a woman. She is being given credit because she has actually been competitive through the ranks and as a ROOKIE she's show to be quite competitive. Some people might try to make a Danica comparison because of the female factor but there really isn't any comparison. Simona IS a real talent and she's going to be around awhile.

As far as sessions and times, they are split into 2 groups and you are only compared to the group you are in. Many things determine speeds, something as simple as cloud cover in one session vs the next. Simona was in a transfer spot late in the session, was actually competitive as compared to her session.

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Originally Posted by GRW1983

She prefers the wheel to wheel of oval racing, so NASCAR, probably, awaits.

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She may say she prefers wheel to wheel oval racing, but she doesn't DO it. Talk's cheap, until you're called on it.

That's one nice thing about televised racing. Old racing saying - the bull**** stops when the green flag drops. You can try to con people about talent, but on television, it's either there, or it's not.

So far, for DP in Nationwide, it's not. Sorry, DF.

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Originally Posted by DanicaFan

Here is the starting grid..

Row 1

#12 Will Power
#11 Tony Kanaan

Row 2

#9 Scott Dixon
#22 Justin Wilson

Row 3

#3 Helio Castroneves
#26 Marco Andretti

Row 4

#37 Ryan Hunter-Reay
#77 Alex Tagliani

Row 5

#8 EJ Viso
#24 Mike Conway

Row 6

#5 Takuma Sato
#06 Hideki Mutoh

Row 7

#10 Dario Franchitti
#78 Simona De Silvestro

Row 8

#4 Dan Wheldon
#67 Graham Rahal

Row 9

#14 Vitor Meira
#34 Mario Romancini

Row 10

#6 Ryan Briscoe
#32 Mario Moraes

Row 11

#7 Danica Patrick
#19 Alex Lloyd

Row 12

#2 Raphael Matos
#18 Milka Duno

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How does "your girl" feel about being on a so called top tier team and sucking on Simona's tailpipe at the start, oh no problem, yeah you are probably right -- after all "your girl" is 4 rows behind Simona who drives for a bottom tier team.

Just another excuse to blast ICS road courses as a set up to going to Nascar for that exciting oval all-throttle driving instead of that nasty challenging road course stuff- you know with brakes and steering and junk.... When she goes to Nascar full time will you go to their forum too ?

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Originally Posted by DanicaFan

Yeah, yeah, you guys give her "crap" now but wait until we get back on the ovals and she dominates them. Expect her in the top 5 at every oval track this year. :)

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Thanks for your quote ..." on the ovals and she dominates them... Expect her in the top 5 at every oval track this year." Sorry to be rude but that's a real howler !!! I will be sure to hold you accountable when she doesn't. I'm not worried about the opposite as I think she'll be in Nascar, sucking their tailpipes, full time before the ICS oval-season begins. Is your quote good only for ICS or can I mock you for your crazy predictions about her Nascar performances too ?

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._4900870_n.jpg

Will Powers is flying... he really has a step on the rest of the field. Penkse looks great. Nice seeing the whole Andretti garage competive. (Except car 7, more on that later)

It truly looks like a good show so far.

About Danica... I think she should think about retiring. Get out while she still has a reputation as a fast driver. However, on a somewhat related item, there is a little online poll on indycar.com - "Which drivers do you want to see on Race Control" - Danica is 50% ahead of Ryan Hunter Reay, and over double the votes of anyone else.

Simona is doing really well... top rookie in the field. Is Ana Beatriz expected to run anymore races?

Simona YES.... Danica NO .... Danica will make a lot more money in NASCAR and be mired with the other open wheelers who took the paycheck, at the back of the pack. Good riddance.

Good luck to Danica along with Speed, Allmendinger, Hornish Jr. , John Andretti, and Robbie Gordon. Be happy making money running at the back of the pack and never come close to winning another race in your life.

Simona was one race away from winning the Atlantics championship last year, save a last race break down which knocked her out of the running. I don't think Danica has been or ever will be competing for a championship at any level.

Simona de Silvestro .... Atlantics 2009 -- 11 races 4 wins 4 poles 8 Podiums
Danica Patrick .... Atlantics 2003 - - 12 races 0 wins 0 poles 2 podiums

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Originally Posted by SoCalPVguy

When she goes to Nascar full time will you go to their forum too ?

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Can't wait to see her at Bristol , Darlington, or Martinsville. If she thinks road courses are tough those three tracks will kick her hard.

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Originally Posted by ChicagocrewIRL

Simona was one race away from winning the Atlantics championship last year, save a last race break down which knocked her out of the running. I don't think Danica has been or ever will be competing for a championship at any level.

Simona de Silvestro .... Atlantics 2009 -- 11 races 4 wins 4 poles 8 Podiums
Danica Patrick .... Atlantics 2003 - - 12 races 0 wins 0 poles 2 podiums

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Part of the story you are missing too.....The field was as big if not bigger last year. Danica was finishing 10th in a 14 car field some times that year. I remember her first trip to Toronto....she looked as home driving on a road course as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Street courses just don't do it for her and she is obvious about her dislike of them.

Hell of a way to try to win a championship.....

As for Simona, I am impressed by her progress, but not ready to put the crown on her just yet. She needs to finish a race and move up during the race by doing more than just not crashing. That is the Danica Patrick method of race management, and while it can get you decent finishes, it is not something I look for in a racing driver. Simona I think will prove this more as time goes on. She looked pretty decent in Sao Paulo.

At the front? Well I picked Power and he isn't disappointing me at all. I am happy to give the shoutout for my buddy Tags in 8th too...

What happened in Brazil to put Simona 3 laps down? She was running so well early on. Did she have a spin during the heavy rain or something. I watched the race again tonight with my wife and didn't notice any comments from the announcers about how she dropped back.

Gary

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Originally Posted by e2mtt

Get out while she still has a reputation as a fast driver.

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Great post, agree totally but.....HUH!? to this part.

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Originally Posted by garyshell

What happened in Brazil to put Simona 3 laps down? She was running so well early on. Did she have a spin during the heavy rain or something. I watched the race again tonight with my wife and didn't notice any comments from the announcers about how she dropped back.

Gary

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Rear suspension and brake problems.

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Originally Posted by TURN3

Great post, agree totally but.....HUH!? to this part.

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Perceptions and reality can be two different worlds to some.

So today, I think look for these hard chargers to make up a lot of positions early on. These are guys (gals) that are in the back of the pack that will be eager and are able to run up front. Ryan Briscoe, Dario Franchitti, Dan Wheldon, Vitor Meira, Graham Rahal, and Simona de Silvestro will all be candidates for the "Hard Charger Award" for making up the most positions during the course of the race.

My contender/pretender list for the 2010 St. Pete Indy Grand Prix

Will Power - CONTENDER
Tony Kanaan - CONTENDER
Scott Dixon - CONTENDER
Justin Wilson - CONTENDER
Helio Castroneves - CONTENDER
Marco Andretti - pretender
Ryan Hunter-Reay - CONTENDER
Alex Tagliani - pretender
E.J. Viso - pretender
Mike Conway - pretender
Takuma Sato - pretender
Hideki Mutoh - pretender
Dario Franchitti - CONTENDER
Simona de Silvestro - pretender
Dan Wheldon - pretender
Graham Rahal - pretender
Vitor Meira - CONTENDER
Mario Romancini - pretender
Ryan Briscoe - CONTENDER
Mario Moraes - pretender
Danica Patrick - pretender
Alex Lloyd - pretender
Raphael Matos - pretender
Milka - forget it !

matos finnally lays down a lap and gets to the top 5 in morning warm-up....man hes been slow this weekend so far...


Dixon goes P1....first time will wasnt atop the grid...although he was p2


the Brand solidly in at 17th


and Milks still 7sec off the pace....how is that possible in a spec series

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Originally Posted by ChicagocrewIRL

My contender/pretender list for the 2010 St. Pete Indy Grand Prix

Will Power - CONTENDER
Tony Kanaan - CONTENDER
Scott Dixon - CONTENDER
Justin Wilson - CONTENDER
Helio Castroneves - CONTENDER
Marco Andretti - pretender
Ryan Hunter-Reay - CONTENDER
Alex Tagliani - pretender
E.J. Viso - pretender
Mike Conway - pretender
Takuma Sato - pretender
Hideki Mutoh - pretender
Dario Franchitti - CONTENDER
Simona de Silvestro - pretender
Dan Wheldon - pretender
Graham Rahal - pretender
Vitor Meira - CONTENDER
Mario Romancini - pretender
Ryan Briscoe - CONTENDER
Mario Moraes - pretender
Danica Patrick - pretender
Alex Lloyd - pretender
Raphael Matos - pretender
Milka - forget it !

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I agree Marco is a pretender.....but he did make the fast 6....did he make the fast 6 even once in 2009?

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Originally Posted by e2mtt

1. However, on a somewhat related item, there is a little online poll on indycar.com - "Which drivers do you want to see on Race Control" - Danica is 50% ahead of Ryan Hunter Reay, and over double the votes of anyone else.

2. Is Ana Beatriz expected to run anymore races?

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1. That is more a product of having a series with a bunch of drivers people don't care about. Danica will win by default, with things like this. Whether you like her or not, at least you know her and care one way or the other about her.

2. Probably back for Indy with D&R.

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Originally Posted by Ken

and Milks still 7sec off the pace....how is that possible in a spec series

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I think that Coyne car is just that slow. I am sure Milka is getting everything out of it, it has. Hopefully they get the car sorted out soon and then Milka can start showing her major league racing skills.

With Donuts would be struggling to stay up with the greatness that is Rodrigo Barbosa (who I think is the male version of Milka in Lights), that is scary.

The final practice session is over from today.

Here are the results...

Rank / Car# & Driver / Lap Time / Speed

1. #9 Scott Dixon / 01:02.9343 / 102.965
2. #12 Will Power / 01:03.1731 / 102.575
3. #11 Tony Kanaan / 01:03.2922 / 102.382
4. #2 Raphael Matos / 01:03.3433 / 102.300
5. #4 Dan Wheldon / 01:03.3504 / 102.288
6. #24 Mike Conway / 01:03.3564 / 102.279
7. #6 Ryan Briscoe / 01:03.3840 / 102.234
8. #10 Dario Franchitti / 01:03.3978 / 102.212
9. #3 Helio Castroneves / 01:03.4696 / 102.096
10. #22 Justin Wilson / 01:03.5154 / 102.023
11. #8 EJ Viso / 01:03.5640 / 101.944
12. #37 Ryan Hunter-Reay / 01:03.5668 / 101.940
13. #26 Marco Andretti / 01:03.5999 / 101.887
14. #78 Simona De Silvestro / 01:03.6043 / 101.880
15. #67 Graham Rahal / 01:03.6100 / 101.871
16. #14 Vitor Meira / 01:03.6477 / 101.810
17. #7 Danica Patrick / 01:03.7113 / 101.709
18. #77 Alex Tagliani / 01:03.7131 / 101.706
19. #5 Takuma Sato / 01:03.7859 / 101.590
20. #06 Hideki Mutoh / 01:03.9085 / 101.395
21. #32 Mario Moraes / 01:04.0477 / 101.175
22. #34 Mario Romancini / 01:04.2046 / 100.927
23. #19 Alex Lloyd / 01:04.2385 / 100.874
24. #18 Milka Duno / 01:10.1599 / 92.360

Tight Field with one exception...

http://i41.tinypic.com/w6xus3.jpg

Practice might not matter. 90% chance of rain today, all day, next 24 hours really.

The race is going to be exciting either way, but the rain will just add another element, just as it did in Sao Paolo. I hope they don't have to red flag the race though.

Lots of low-talent "vanker" moves in the early going of the Lights race.

I have my Danica & GoDaddy shirt on all ready for the race!

Go get em' Danica!

In looking at Hoop's list, I truly wish the IRL had the 107% rule, or even the 110% rule. I like Milka as a person. As a driver (she's not a racer), she is so far out to lunch, it's amazing. She does not belong in this race, and I don't say that lightly. I really wish they'd suddenly find some tech problem with her car, and just keep her off that track.

Yikes. How can Duno possibly be 8 seconds off the pace when the lap is only just over a minute? I hope that she doesn't hit anyone.

Because she simply is not of the caliber to be competing at this level.

They've parked her before just as they have parked other drivers and essentially pulled their license. This is one situation where I don't agree with allowing the driver on track just to keep a sponsor in the series. They need to do it again and park her and Hugo Chavez's money.

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Originally Posted by Hoop-98

3 Indy car fans to change a light? 1 changes a bulb, 2 discuss how great it was before electricity

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Right on target! :)

Getting this race started, much less finished is going to be real iffy today. AR1 reports that the stands were evacuated because of a big storm and supposedly more to come. NASCAR Sprint Cup cancelled until tomorrow...hope the same doesn't happen to St. Pete. Anybody have any current condition report from St. Pete?

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Originally Posted by booger

Getting this race started, much less finished is going to be real iffy today. AR1 reports that the stands were evacuated because of a big storm and supposedly more to come. NASCAR Sprint Cup cancelled until tomorrow...hope the same doesn't happen to St. Pete. Anybody have any current condition report from St. Pete?

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Watch live video ... not good ...

Still raining and some thunder (it seems), but the fans have been let out of the safe areas they were directed to when the storms began. A saftey vehicle is circulating the track for inspection.

Just looked at the Doppler radar. Big blob of rain over and to the west of T/St. P area . Doesn't look good.

just saw a shot of the edge of the track on the sky sports coverage-a rather deep mimi lake it seems. start delayed by an hour apparently. first nascar and now Indycars looking iffy, can't a man enjoy some american motorsport without being interrupted by stupid weather? :D

at least we get to see Danica interviewed on ABC now. Such a rare opportunity.

Rain, rain, rain. Unfortunately we may not get this race off until tomorrow.

If they call it, when will that be? And, when would they run it tomorrow and will it be on ESPN? VS? Anywhere?

man.. with nascar rained out...and 75% of sports fans no longer having a team left on there final4 brackets.... plus no tiger playing golf...

this series cant catch a break!

on the plus side, the stream on the website's working perfectly, there's no buffering at all while i'm watching the puddles fill.

2morrow 10 am ESPN2

No luck

Race postponed until Monday at 10am EST and will be on ESPN2