2008 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{American Championship Car race report infobox|
Country = USA
| Race = St. Petersburg
| Image = St. Petersburg street & airport racing circuit.svg
| Caption =
| Date = April 6
| Year = 2008
| Official name = Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
| Round_No = 2nd
| Series = IndyCar Series
| Location = Streets of St. Petersburg
| Course = Temporary Street Circuit
| Course_mi = 1.800
| Course_km = 2.897
| Distance_laps = 83
| Distance_mi = 149.400
| Distance_km = 240.436
| Weather = {{convert|78|F}}, Rain & clouds
| Pole_Driver = Tony Kanaan
| Pole_Team = {{flagicon|USA}} Andretti Green Racing
| Pole_Time = 1:02.5322
| Pole_Country = Brazil
| Fast_Driver = Tony Kanaan
| Fast_Team = {{flagicon|USA}} Andretti Green Racing
| Fast_Time = 1:03.8874
| Fast_Lap = 76
| Fast_Country = Brazil
| First_Driver = Graham Rahal
| First_Team = {{flagicon|USA}} Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing
| First_Country = USA
| Second_Driver = Hélio Castroneves
| Second_Team = {{flagicon|USA}} Penske Racing
| Second_Country= Brazil
| Third_Driver = Tony Kanaan
| Third_Team = {{flagicon|USA}} Andretti Green Racing
| Third_Country = Brazil
}}
The 2008 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg was the second round of the 2008 IndyCar Series season and took place on April 6, 2008 at the {{convert|1.8|mi|km|adj=on}} temporary street and airport circuit on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.{{cite news
| url =http://www.indycar.com/stats/full_race_results.php?event_date=2008-04-06&year=2008
| title =St. Petersburg results
| publisher =Indycar.com
| date = 2008-04-06
| accessdate = 2008-04-08}} The race was a time-limited race due to rain, with the race falling some seventeen laps short of full race distance. The race was won by Graham Rahal on his IndyCar Series debut, having missed the first round at Homestead-Miami Speedway, due to a lack of spare parts for his #06 Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing machine.
At 19 years, 93 days old, Rahal became the youngest driver ever to win an Indy-style race, as well as the youngest winner in IndyCar Series history{{cite news|url=http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080406/SPORTS0107/80406006 |title=Rahal's victory sets open-wheel record |publisher=IndyStar.com |date=2008-04-06 |accessdate=2008-04-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319204602/http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080406%2FSPORTS0107%2F80406006 |archivedate=March 19, 2012 }} breaking Marco Andretti's record of 19 years, 167 days from the 2006 IndyCar Series season. He also became the fourth driver to win an IndyCar Series race in his first start, joining Buzz Calkins, Juan Pablo Montoya and Scott Dixon.
Qualifying
- All cars are split into two groups of thirteen, with the fastest six from each group going through to the "Top 12" session. In this session, the fastest six runners will progress to the "Firestone Fast Six". The fastest driver in this final session will claim pole, with the rest of the runners lining up in session order, regardless of qualifying times. (Fast Six from 1-6, Top 12 from 7-12 and Round 1 from 13-26) Drivers can use as many laps as they want in the timed sessions.
= Round 1 =
== Group 1 ==
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" | |||||
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background:lightgreen;"
| style="text-align:center;"| 1 | style="color:green; background:yellow; text-align:center;"|8 |{{flagicon|AUS}} Will Power (R) |align=center|1:02.6560 |align=center|103.422 | |||||
| style="background:lightgreen;"
| style="text-align:center;"| 2 | style="color:white; background:#00af00; text-align:center;"|11 |{{flagicon|BRA}} Tony Kanaan |align=center|1:02.7752 |align=center|103.225 | |||||
| style="background:lightgreen;"
| style="text-align:center;"| 3 | style="color:black; background:white; text-align:center;"|06 |{{flagicon|USA}} Graham Rahal (R) |align=center|1:02.9581 |align=center|102.926 | |||||
| style="background:lightgreen;"
| style="text-align:center;"| 4 | style="color:white; background:orange; text-align:center;"|34 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Franck Perera (R) |align=center|1:03.1453 |align=center|102.620 | |||||
| style="background:lightgreen;"
| style="text-align:center;"| 5 | style="color:white; background:#f00; text-align:center;"|14 |{{flagicon|UK}} Darren Manning |align=center|1:03.1822 |align=center|102.561 | |||||
| style="background:lightgreen;"
| style="text-align:center;"| 6 | style="color:Black; background:#0f0; text-align:center;"|17 |{{flagicon|US}} Ryan Hunter-Reay |align=center|1:03.1923 |align=center|102.544 | |||||
| 7
| style="color:white; background:blue; text-align:center;"|27 |{{flagicon|Japan}} Hideki Mutoh (R) |align=center|1:03.2757 |align=center|102.409 | |||||
| 8
| style="color:black; background:white; text-align:center;"|36 |{{flagicon|BRA}} Enrique Bernoldi (R) |align=center|1:03.4568 |align=center|102.117 | |||||
| 9
| style="color:aqua; background:black; text-align:center;"|7 |{{flagicon|US}} Danica Patrick |align=center|1:03.5766 |align=center|101.924 | |||||
| 10
| style="color:black; background:yellow; text-align:center;"|20 |{{flagicon|US}} Ed Carpenter |align=center|1:03.8007 |align=center|101.566 | |||||
| 11
| style="color:white; background:red; text-align:center;"|19 |{{flagicon|BRA}} Mario Moraes (R) |align=center|1:04.1590 |align=center|100.999 | |||||
| 12
| style="color:white; background:navy; text-align:center;"|23 |{{flagicon|US}} Townsend Bell |align=center|1:04.3880 |align=center|100.640 | |||||
| 13
| style="color:gold; background:black; text-align:center;"|25 |{{flagicon|CAN}} Marty Roth |align=center|1:07.7041 |align=center|95.711 |
== Group 2 ==
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" | |||||
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background:lightgreen;"
| style="text-align:center;"| 1 | style="color:yellow; background:red; text-align:center;"|02 |{{flagicon|UK}} Justin Wilson (R) |align=center|1:02.7341 |align=center|103.293 | |||||
| style="background:lightgreen;"
| style="text-align:center;"| 2 | style="color:black; background:#f00; text-align:center;"|6 |{{flagicon|AUS}} Ryan Briscoe |align=center|1:02.8910 |align=center|103.035 | |||||
| style="background:lightgreen;"
| style="text-align:center;"| 3 | style="color:orange; background:black; text-align:center;"|26 |{{flagicon|US}} Marco Andretti |align=center|1:03.0131 |align=center|102.836 | |||||
| style="background:lightgreen;"
| style="text-align:center;"| 4 | style="color:black; background:#f00; text-align:center;"|3 |{{flagicon|Brazil}} Hélio Castroneves |align=center|1:03.1560 |align=center|102.603 | |||||
| style="background:lightgreen;"
| style="text-align:center;"| 5 | style="color:silver; background:black; text-align:center;"|5 |{{flagicon|ESP}} Oriol Servià (R) |align=center|1:03.1653 |align=center|102.588 | |||||
| style="background:lightgreen;"
| style="text-align:center;"| 6 | style="color:white; background:red; text-align:center;"|10 |{{flagicon|UK}} Dan Wheldon |align=center|1:03.2095 |align=center|102.516 | |||||
| 7
| style="color:red; background:white; text-align:center;"|9 |{{flagicon|NZL}} Scott Dixon |align=center|1:03.2365 |align=center|102.472 | |||||
| 8
| style="color:lime; background:black; text-align:center;"|33 |{{flagicon|VEN}} E. J. Viso (R) |align=center|1:03.3067 |align=center|102.359 | |||||
| 9
| style="color:white; background:navy; text-align:center;"|15 |{{flagicon|US}} Buddy Rice |align=center|1:03.3591 |align=center|102.274 | |||||
| 10
| style="color:white; background:red; text-align:center;"|4 ||{{flagicon|BRA}} Vítor Meira |align=center|1:03.4480 |align=center|102.131 | |||||
| 11
| style="color:red; background:white; text-align:center;"|24 |{{flagicon|UK}} Jay Howard (R) |align=center|1:03.7447 |align=center|101.656 | |||||
| 12
| style="color:red; background:gray; text-align:center;"|2 |{{flagicon|US}} A. J. Foyt IV |align=center|1:04.4996 |align=center|100.466 | |||||
| 13
| style="color:black; background:#f00; text-align:center;"|18 |{{flagicon|BRA}} Bruno Junqueira |align=center|1:09.3851 |align=center|93.392 |
= Round 2 (Top 12) =
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" | |||||
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background:lightgreen;"
| style="text-align:center;"| 1 | style="color:green; background:yellow; text-align:center;"|8 |{{flagicon|AUS}} Will Power (R) |align=center|1:02.1355 |align=center|104.288 | |||||
| style="background:lightgreen;"
| style="text-align:center;"| 2 | style="color:white; background:#00af00; text-align:center;"|11 |{{flagicon|BRA}} Tony Kanaan |align=center|1:02.4960 |align=center|103.687 | |||||
| style="background:lightgreen;"
| style="text-align:center;"| 3 | style="color:black; background:#f00; text-align:center;"|6 |{{flagicon|AUS}} Ryan Briscoe |align=center|1:02.5031 |align=center|103.675 | |||||
| style="background:lightgreen;"
| style="text-align:center;"| 4 | style="color:yellow; background:red; text-align:center;"|02 |{{flagicon|UK}} Justin Wilson (R) |align=center|1:02.5393 |align=center|103.615 | |||||
| style="background:lightgreen;"
| style="text-align:center;"| 5 | style="color:Black; background:#0f0; text-align:center;"|17 |{{flagicon|US}} Ryan Hunter-Reay |align=center|1:02.6864 |align=center|103.372 | |||||
| style="background:lightgreen;"
| style="text-align:center;"| 6 | style="color:black; background:#f00; text-align:center;"|3 |{{flagicon|Brazil}} Hélio Castroneves |align=center|1:02.6869 |align=center|103.371 | |||||
| 7
| style="color:silver; background:black; text-align:center;"|5 |{{flagicon|ESP}} Oriol Servià (R) |align=center|1:02.7427 |align=center|103.279 | |||||
| 8
| style="color:white; background:red; text-align:center;"|10 |{{flagicon|UK}} Dan Wheldon |align=center|1:02.7964 |align=center|103.191 | |||||
| 9
| style="color:black; background:white; text-align:center;"|06 |{{flagicon|USA}} Graham Rahal (R) |align=center|1:02.8122 |align=center|103.165 | |||||
| 10
| style="color:white; background:orange; text-align:center;"|34 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Franck Perera (R) |align=center|1:02.8749 |align=center|103.062 | |||||
| 11
| style="color:white; background:#f00; text-align:center;"|14 |{{flagicon|UK}} Darren Manning |align=center|1:03.0136 |align=center|102.835 | |||||
| 12
| style="color:orange; background:black; text-align:center;"|26 |{{flagicon|US}} Marco Andretti |align=center|1:03.2443 |align=center|102.460 |
= Round 3 (Firestone Fast Six) =
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" | |||||
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1
| style="color:white; background:#00af00; text-align:center;"|11 |{{flagicon|BRA}} Tony Kanaan |align=center|1:02.5322 |align=center|103.627 | |||||
| 2
| style="color:green; background:yellow; text-align:center;"|8 |{{flagicon|AUS}} Will Power (R) |align=center|1:02.6096 |align=center|103.499 | |||||
| 3
| style="color:yellow; background:red; text-align:center;"|02 |{{flagicon|UK}} Justin Wilson (R) |align=center|1:02.6426 |align=center|103.444 | |||||
| 4
| style="color:black; background:#f00; text-align:center;"|3 |{{flagicon|Brazil}} Hélio Castroneves |align=center|1:02.6462 |align=center|103.438 | |||||
| 5
| style="color:black; background:#f00; text-align:center;"|6 |{{flagicon|AUS}} Ryan Briscoe |align=center|1:02.7071 |align=center|103.338 | |||||
| 6
| style="color:Black; background:#0f0; text-align:center;"|17 |{{flagicon|US}} Ryan Hunter-Reay |align=center|1:03.0077 |align=center|102.845 |
= Grid =
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" | |||||
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1
| style="color:white; background:#00af00; text-align:center;"|11 |{{flagicon|BRA}} Tony Kanaan |align=center|1:02.5322 |align=center|103.627 | |||||
| 2
| style="color:green; background:yellow; text-align:center;"|8 |{{flagicon|AUS}} Will Power (R) |align=center|1:02.6096 |align=center|103.499 | |||||
| 3
| style="color:yellow; background:red; text-align:center;"|02 |{{flagicon|UK}} Justin Wilson (R) |align=center|1:02.6426 |align=center|103.444 | |||||
| 4
| style="color:black; background:#f00; text-align:center;"|3 |{{flagicon|Brazil}} Hélio Castroneves |align=center|1:02.6462 |align=center|103.438 | |||||
| 5
| style="color:black; background:#f00; text-align:center;"|6 |{{flagicon|AUS}} Ryan Briscoe |align=center|1:02.7071 |align=center|103.338 | |||||
| 6
| style="color:Black; background:#0f0; text-align:center;"|17 |{{flagicon|US}} Ryan Hunter-Reay |align=center|1:03.0077 |align=center|102.845 | |||||
| 7
| style="color:silver; background:black; text-align:center;"|5 |{{flagicon|ESP}} Oriol Servià (R) |align=center|1:02.7427 |align=center|103.279 | |||||
| 8
| style="color:white; background:red; text-align:center;"|10 |{{flagicon|UK}} Dan Wheldon |align=center|1:02.7964 |align=center|103.191 | |||||
| 9
| style="color:black; background:white; text-align:center;"|06 |{{flagicon|USA}} Graham Rahal (R) |align=center|1:02.8122 |align=center|103.165 | |||||
| 10
| style="color:white; background:orange; text-align:center;"|34 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Franck Perera (R) |align=center|1:02.8749 |align=center|103.062 | |||||
| 11
| style="color:white; background:#f00; text-align:center;"|14 |{{flagicon|UK}} Darren Manning |align=center|1:03.0136 |align=center|102.835 | |||||
| 12
| style="color:orange; background:black; text-align:center;"|26 |{{flagicon|US}} Marco Andretti |align=center|1:03.2443 |align=center|102.460 | |||||
| 13
| style="color:red; background:white; text-align:center;"|9 |{{flagicon|NZL}} Scott Dixon |align=center|1:03.2365 |align=center|102.472 | |||||
| 14
| style="color:white; background:blue; text-align:center;"|27 |{{flagicon|Japan}} Hideki Mutoh (R) |align=center|1:03.2757 |align=center|102.409 | |||||
| 15
| style="color:lime; background:black; text-align:center;"|33 |{{flagicon|VEN}} E. J. Viso (R) |align=center|1:03.3067 |align=center|102.359 | |||||
| 16
| style="color:white; background:navy; text-align:center;"|15 |{{flagicon|US}} Buddy Rice |align=center|1:03.3591 |align=center|102.274 | |||||
| 17
| style="color:white; background:red; text-align:center;"|4 ||{{flagicon|BRA}} Vítor Meira |align=center|1:03.4480 |align=center|102.131 | |||||
| 18
| style="color:black; background:white; text-align:center;"|36 |{{flagicon|BRA}} Enrique Bernoldi (R) |align=center|1:03.4568 |align=center|102.117 | |||||
| 19
| style="color:aqua; background:black; text-align:center;"|7 |{{flagicon|US}} Danica Patrick |align=center|1:03.5766 |align=center|101.924 | |||||
| 20
| style="color:red; background:white; text-align:center;"|24 |{{flagicon|UK}} Jay Howard (R) |align=center|1:03.7447 |align=center|101.656 | |||||
| 21
| style="color:black; background:yellow; text-align:center;"|20 |{{flagicon|US}} Ed Carpenter |align=center|1:03.8007 |align=center|101.566 | |||||
| 22
| style="color:white; background:red; text-align:center;"|19 |{{flagicon|BRA}} Mario Moraes (R) |align=center|1:04.1590 |align=center|100.999 | |||||
| 23
| style="color:white; background:navy; text-align:center;"|23 |{{flagicon|US}} Townsend Bell |align=center|1:04.3880 |align=center|100.640 | |||||
| 24
| style="color:red; background:gray; text-align:center;"|2 |{{flagicon|US}} A. J. Foyt IV |align=center|1:04.4996 |align=center|100.466 | |||||
| 25
| style="color:gold; background:black; text-align:center;"|25 |{{flagicon|CAN}} Marty Roth |align=center|1:07.7041 |align=center|95.711 | |||||
| 26
| style="color:black; background:#f00; text-align:center;"|18 |{{flagicon|BRA}} Bruno Junqueira |align=center|1:09.3851 |align=center|93.392 |
- Before the race, Marty Roth had a problem with his car and did not start. Bruno Junqueira therefore moved up to 25th on the grid.
Race
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" | ||||||||
| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid | Laps Led | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1
| style="color:black; background:white; text-align:center;"|06 |{{flagicon|USA}} Graham Rahal (R) |align=center|83 |align=center|2:00:43.5562 |align=center|9 |align=center|19 |align=center|53 | ||||||||
| 2
| style="color:black; background:#f00; text-align:center;"|3 |{{flagicon|Brazil}} Hélio Castroneves |align=center|83 |align=center|+3.5192 |align=center|4 |align=center|0 |align=center|40 | ||||||||
| 3
| style="color:white; background:#00af00; text-align:center;"|11 |{{flagicon|BRA}} Tony Kanaan |align=center|83 |align=center|+5.5134 |align=center|1 |align=center|15 |align=center|35 | ||||||||
| 4
| style="color:lime; background:black; text-align:center;"|33 |{{flagicon|VEN}} E. J. Viso (R) |align=center|83 |align=center|+8.8575 |align=center|15 |align=center|12 |align=center|32 | ||||||||
| 5
| style="color:black; background:white; text-align:center;"|36 |{{flagicon|BRA}} Enrique Bernoldi (R) |align=center|83 |align=center|+9.6360 |align=center|18 |align=center|3 |align=center|30 | ||||||||
| 6
| style="color:white; background:blue; text-align:center;"|27 |{{flagicon|Japan}} Hideki Mutoh (R) |align=center|83 |align=center|+10.0071 |align=center|14 |align=center|0 |align=center|28 | ||||||||
| 7
| style="color:silver; background:black; text-align:center;"|5 |{{flagicon|ESP}} Oriol Servià (R) |align=center|83 |align=center|+11.2871 |align=center|7 |align=center|0 |align=center|26 | ||||||||
| 8
| style="color:green; background:yellow; text-align:center;"|8 |{{flagicon|AUS}} Will Power (R) |align=center|83 |align=center|+12.8493 |align=center|2 |align=center|0 |align=center|24 | ||||||||
| 9
| style="color:yellow; background:red; text-align:center;"|02 |{{flagicon|UK}} Justin Wilson (R) |align=center|83 |align=center|+14.3598 |align=center|3 |align=center|18 |align=center|22 | ||||||||
| 10
| style="color:aqua; background:black; text-align:center;"|7 |{{flagicon|US}} Danica Patrick |align=center|83 |align=center|+16.7298 |align=center|19 |align=center|0 |align=center|20 | ||||||||
| 11
| style="color:red; background:gray; text-align:center;"|2 |{{flagicon|US}} A. J. Foyt IV |align=center|83 |align=center|+20.8319 |align=center|24 |align=center|0 |align=center|19 | ||||||||
| 12
| style="color:white; background:red; text-align:center;"|10 |{{flagicon|UK}} Dan Wheldon |align=center|83 |align=center|+24.7800 |align=center|8 |align=center|0 |align=center|18 | ||||||||
| 13
| style="color:white; background:#f00; text-align:center;"|14 |{{flagicon|UK}} Darren Manning |align=center|83 |align=center|+45.8601 |align=center|11 |align=center|0 |align=center|17 | ||||||||
| 14
| style="color:red; background:white; text-align:center;"|24 |{{flagicon|UK}} Jay Howard (R) |align=center|82 |align=center|+1 Lap |align=center|20 |align=center|0 |align=center|16 | ||||||||
| 15
| style="color:white; background:navy; text-align:center;"|15 |{{flagicon|US}} Buddy Rice |align=center|82 |align=center|+1 Lap |align=center|16 |align=center|0 |align=center|15 | ||||||||
| 16
| style="color:white; background:red; text-align:center;"|19 |{{flagicon|BRA}} Mario Moraes (R) |align=center|82 |align=center|+1 Lap |align=center|22 |align=center|0 |align=center|14 | ||||||||
| 17
| style="color:Black; background:#0f0; text-align:center;"|17 |{{flagicon|US}} Ryan Hunter-Reay |align=center|81 |align=center|+2 Laps |align=center|6 |align=center|4 |align=center|13 | ||||||||
| 18
| style="color:black; background:yellow; text-align:center;"|20 |{{flagicon|US}} Ed Carpenter |align=center|80 |align=center|Accident |align=center|21 |align=center|0 |align=center|12 | ||||||||
| 19
| style="color:white; background:red; text-align:center;"|4 ||{{flagicon|BRA}} Vítor Meira |align=center|75 |align=center|Collision |align=center|17 |align=center|1 |align=center|12 | ||||||||
| 20
| style="color:white; background:orange; text-align:center;"|34 |{{flagicon|FRA}} Franck Perera (R) |align=center|75 |align=center|Collision |align=center|10 |align=center|0 |align=center|12 | ||||||||
| 21
| style="color:white; background:navy; text-align:center;"|23 |{{flagicon|US}} Townsend Bell |align=center|75 |align=center|Collision |align=center|23 |align=center|0 |align=center|12 | ||||||||
| 22
| style="color:red; background:white; text-align:center;"|9 |{{flagicon|NZL}} Scott Dixon |align=center|74 |align=center|Mechanical |align=center|13 |align=center|0 |align=center|12 | ||||||||
| 23
| style="color:black; background:#f00; text-align:center;"|6 |{{flagicon|AUS}} Ryan Briscoe |align=center|56 |align=center|Accident |align=center|5 |align=center|11 |align=center|12 | ||||||||
| 24
| style="color:black; background:#f00; text-align:center;"|18 |{{flagicon|BRA}} Bruno Junqueira |align=center|44 |align=center|Mechanical |align=center|25 |align=center|0 |align=center|12 | ||||||||
| 25
| style="color:orange; background:black; text-align:center;"|26 |{{flagicon|US}} Marco Andretti |align=center|41 |align=center|Mechanical |align=center|12 |align=center|0 |align=center|10 | ||||||||
| DNS
| style="color:gold; background:black; text-align:center;"|25 |{{flagicon|CAN}} Marty Roth |align=center|0 |align=center| |align=center|26 |align=center|0 |align=center|5 |
Notes
- The race began under caution, due to the rain that was lying on the street circuit. The race would finally go green on lap 10.
- Due to a two-hour time limit, the race was curtailed after 83 of the original 100 laps.
References
{{S-start}}
{{succession box|before=2008 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300|title=IRL IndyCar Series
round 2|years=2008|after=2008 Indy Japan 300 (IRL teams; 3A)
2008 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach (transition teams; 3B)}}
{{S-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2008 Honda Grand Prix Of St. Petersburg}}
Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Category:Grand Prix of St. Petersburg