Notes

Ryan Briscoe passed Justin Wilson with 13 laps remaining and never lookedback en route to capturing the inaugural race of the 2009 IndyCar Series onthe streets of St. Petersburg. The No. 6 Team Penske driver crossed the finishline 0.4619 of a second ahead of Ryan Hunter-Reay for his third career IndyCartitle.This was the first time in the history of the series that the opening race hasbeen held on a street course. It was also the first time that the inauguralrace of the season was on the Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. Afterholding down the number two stop on the schedule the past three years, St.Petersburg became the third Florida venue to host the opener.This time around, St. Petersburg is second on the schedule. Will Powercaptured the opening event two weeks ago in Brazil, as he crossed the finishline 1.8581 seconds ahead of Hunter-Reay.Not only did Graham Rahal become the youngest driver to win an IndyCar event,he also captured the 2008 race in his first start in the Series. At the ageof 19, Rahal crossed the finish line 3.5192 seconds ahead of two-timedefending champion Helio Castroneves. The key to winning the race was thedecision by his pit crew to stay out on lap 56 when everyone else pitted forfuel. Rahal got around Ryan Hunter Reay (the only other car to stay out) onlap 65 and had enough fuel to make it to the checkered flag. With the win, healso is the first driver since Scott Dixon, to go to victory lane in his veryfirst IRL start.In 2007, Helio Castroneves captured this race for the second consecutive year,as he edged Scott Dixon by less than a second for his 12th career IndyCartitle. Dixon, who finished runner-up for the second straight season, lost by0.6007 of a second. The win by Castroneves was his only victory in 2007. Hiswin total now stands at 16.Castroneves crossed the finish line ahead of Dixon while under caution for histhen eighth career IndyCar title in 2006 and first of that season. Pole sitterDario Franchitti failed to finish the race due to wheel bearing issues andfinished last after leading the first 14 laps. Castroneves battled Dixon downthe stretch, recapturing the lead on lap 96 of the 100-lap race. Just one laplater, Tomas Scheckter and Buddy Rice collided and the caution came out,however the crash was too much to clean up in time and Castroneves took thecheckered flag.The streets of St. Petersburg have hosted open-wheel racing since 2003 and hasmade a seamless transition from Champ Car to IndyCar Series event, beginningin 2005. Much like temporary courses in Cleveland and Edmonton, St. Petersburguses portions of an airport for its race surface, as the runways at AlbertWhitted Airport provide high-speed entries into tight passing opportunities inthe Firestone Curve at Turn 1. Unlike Cleveland and Edmonton, St. Peteactually uses public street courses for the track as well as the 1.806-milecourse meanders along the Bayfront and near Al Lang Field, the Spring Traininghome of Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays.Starting in the ninth position in 2005, Dan Wheldon trailed throughout therace and briefly held the lead for lap 62 of the 100-lap event. Pole sitterBryan Herta, led for 39 laps, including the opening 16 and Ryan Briscoe, wholed a race-high 43 laps, held the top spot on laps 80-91. Wheldon took controlon lap 92 and held on the rest of the way, as he edged Tony Kanaan by lessthan two seconds to capture the inaugural race. Herta finished fourth whileBriscoe placed 14th after suffering an accident on lap 91. Twelve of the 21cars were still running at the end of the race with eight on the lead lap.The winner at St. Petersburg has gone on to win the championship once in thefive years of the event (Wheldon, 2005). In 14 seasons, only four drivers havewon the second race of the year and gone on to win the championship. They are:Buddy Lazier (2000, Phoenix); Sam Hornish Jr. (2001, Homestead-Miami); TonyKanaan (2004, Phoenix); Dario Franchitti (2009, Long Beach).The Izod IndyCar Series moves on to Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham,Alabama for the April 11th, inaugural running of the Indy Grand Prix ofAlabama.03/23 16:52:33 ET