FAST FACTS IZOD IndyCar Series returns stateside for Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Story Ideas: The return of Graham Rahal Graham Rahal made history at St. Petersburg in 2008 when he became the youngest race winner in IZOD IndyCar Series history. Then, in 2009, he became the youngest polesitter. After missing the season opener in Sao Paulo, Honda Grand Prix a two-race deal will see Rahal return to St. Pete in the No. 67 Dollar General of St. Petersburg car for Sarah Fisher Racing. Fisher, the only female owner/driver in the series, was scheduled to run at St. Pete but stepped aside to give Rahal an opportunity Race Broadcast to defend his pole. Sunday, March 28 3:30 p.m.(ET) Franchitti prepares for 200th Indy car start ABC (Live) The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will mark Dario Franchitti’s 200th Indy car start (114 in CART/Champ Car, 86 in IZOD IndyCar Series). During Track the time, Franchitti has claimed two IZOD IndyCar Series titles and currently is Streets of St. tied for 15th on the all-time Indy car victory list with 23. Petersburg, Fla. Six different teams represented in top six at Sao Paulo Distance The inaugural IZOD IndyCar Series race on the street of Sao Paulo, Brazil, 100 laps/181 miles produced exciting racing on the temporary street course, with 95 on-track passes, seven lead changes and six different teams represented among the top- Radio six finishers. Will there be similar results on the streets of St. Petersburg? IMS Radio Network / XM 145 / Sirius FAZZT Race Team makes presence known 211 FAZZT Race Team impressed in its IZOD IndyCar Series debut race on the streets of Sao Paulo. The start-up team with driver Alex Tagliani qualified 1.8-mile, 14-turn second and ran in the top three for the majority of the race before contact with temporary street Dan Wheldon’s car ended the team’s day and relegated Tagliani to a 19th- place circuit finish. Defending Race De Ferran, Matos pairing produce strong results Winner: In February, Luzco Dragon Racing announced the addition of Gil de Ferran to Ryan Briscoe the team as co-owner, president and managing partner, creating an IZOD IndyCar Series team that will leverage science and technology as the Defending foundation for winning. In the first race that has paired sophomore driver Polesitter: Raphael Matos with mentor de Ferran, the team finished fourth, its best IZOD Graham Rahal IndyCar Series finish to date. First IZOD IndyCar Road to Indy on display Series event: In late 2009 the Indy Racing League announced plans for the Road to Indy, its 4/3/2005 official development ladder that provides a defined career path for drivers seeking to reach the IZOD IndyCar Series through the ranks of US F2000, Star Mazda and Firestone Indy Lights. The full ladder system will be on display for the first time during the St. Petersburg event weekend. Race Notes: The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will be the sixth IZOD IndyCar Series event conducted on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. Previous race winners entered are Ryan Briscoe (2009), Graham Rahal (2008), Helio Castroneves (2007, ‘06) and Dan Wheldon (2005). Previous pole winners entered are Graham Rahal (2009), Tony Kanaan (2008), Helio Castroneves (2007) and Dario Franchitti (2006). At least 19 drivers entered in the event have competed in previous IZOD IndyCar Series races at St. Pete. Eleven of those drivers have led laps: (Ryan Briscoe 100, Justin Wilson 52, Scott Dixon 36, Graham Rahal 19, Dario Franchitti 15, Tony Kanaan 15, E.J. Viso 12, Dan Wheldon 12, Ryan Hunter-Reay 4, Marco Andretti 5 and Vitor Meira 1). At least five drivers will compete in their first IZOD IndyCar Series race on the streets of St. Petersburg: Simona De Silvestro, Milka Duno, Alex Lloyd, Mario Romancini and Takuma Sato. Lloyd won two Firestone Indy Lights races on the St. Pete circuit in 2007, and Romancini also competed on the course in 2009 in Firestone Indy Lights. Season to Date: • Will Power won his second career IZOD IndyCar Series race in the season opening inaugural Sao Paulo Indy 300. His first win was also on a street/road course at Edmonton last August. • Dario Franchitti won his 12th career IZOD IndyCar Series pole at Sao Paulo. This was his sixth pole since returning to the series last year. • Four drivers (Ana Beatriz, Simona De Silvestro, Mario Romancini and Takuma Sato) started their first career IZOD IndyCar Series race at Sao Paulo. • Simona De Silvestro led four laps at Sao Paulo in her first IZOD IndyCar Series start. She became the first rookie driver to lead in their first start since Graham Rahal at St. Petersburg in 2008. • Ryan Hunter-Reay finished second in the season opener at Sao Paulo. It was his best finish since last year’s season opener at St. Petersburg where he also finished second. • Vitor Meira finished third at Sao Paulo. It was his best IZOD IndyCar Series finish since finishing second in the 2008 Indianapolis 500. • Drivers from six different teams were in the first six finishing positions at Sao Paulo. • There were five race leaders in the season opening race at Sao Paulo. Milestones & Records: • Tony Kanaan will attempt to make his 116th consecutive start, the active leader among IndyCar Series drivers. Scott Sharp holds the record with138. Dan Wheldon with 113 is the only other active driver with a streak of more than 100 consecutive starts. • Scott Dixon has 33 consecutive top-10 starts. His top-10 start at Sao Paulo gave him the IZOD IndyCar Series record. He was previously tied with Sam Hornish Jr. for that record. • Scott Dixon has the most career IZOD IndyCar Series victories at 21. With a victory in 2010, he will extend his streak of consecutive seasons with a win to six. • A victory in 2010 will give Helio Castroneves a victory in ten consecutive IZOD IndyCar Series seasons. It will also give him the IZOD IndyCar Series record for most seasons with a win. He is currently tied with Scott Sharp for that record at 9. • Helio Castroneves has 73 career top-five finishes, the most in IZOD IndyCar Series history. • Helio Castroneves has 99 top-10 finishes, the most in IZOD IndyCar Series history. With his next top-10 finish, he will be the first person to reach the 100 top-10 finishes. • Helio Castroneves has led 82 races, the most in IZOD IndyCar Series history. • Helio Castroneves needs three earned poles to reach 30 in the IZOD IndyCar Series. • Helio Castroneves is tied at 111 with Scott Sharp for the record of most races running at the finish. • Helio Castroneves ranks second all-time with 3,244 laps led. Sam Hornish Jr. holds the record with 3,428. • Scott Dixon will become the third driver in IZOD IndyCar Series history to reach the 3,000 laps led mark by leading four more laps • Three teams have a chance to be the first to reach the 40-win mark in IZOD IndyCar Series competition. Team Penske needs four victories, while Andretti Autosports and Target Chip Ganassi Racing each need six. • Tony Kanaan needs 11 top-10 finishes to reach 100 in the IZOD IndyCar Series. • Scott Dixon need 10 top-10 finishes to reach 100 in the IZOD Indy Series. At-Track Schedule (all times local): Friday, March 26 10:40-11:40 a.m. IZOD IndyCar Series Practice 2:10-3:10 p.m. IZOD IndyCar Series Practice Saturday, March 27 9:55 to 10:55 a.m. IZOD IndyCar Series Practice 1:30-2:50 p.m. Peak Performance Pole Qualifying Sunday, March 28 9:30-10 a.m. IZOD IndyCar Series Warm Up 2:45 p.m. IZOD IndyCar Series Pre-Race 3:45 p.m. Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Indy Racing League PR Contacts: Amy Konrath, 317-492-6453, [email protected] Dave Lewandowski, 317-492-8533, [email protected] Arni Sribhen, 317-492-8531, [email protected] .