On the Streets of St. Pete
source:
Red Bull Cheever
Racing
Red Bull Cheever Racing drivers Patrick Carpentier and Alex Barron both finished
in the top ten at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Carpentier placed
eighth, his third top-ten finish in three races, and Alex Barron placed tenth,
his second top-ten finish this season.
The race started with a right-hand turn into turn one, in what was the IRL
IndyCar Series' first ever street course event.
Patrick Carpentier, started the race in 14th place in the No. 83 Red Bull
Toyota. The team's strategy had him pit early in the race during the first
yellow caution period on lap 16 of the 100-lap race. Working to save fuel he was
able to run lean on fuel to pit again on lap 62 for a two pit stop race for the
No. 83 team.
During the final restart of the race, after the yellow caution period from laps
87 to 90, Carpentier had a close call in turn four the 1.8-mile, 14-turn street
course.
"Buddy Rice was working to pass me but he came in too hot," Carpentier said. "He
hit me in the side pod and spun me around. I slid through turn five backwards. I
was able to to spin it around and keep going but I lost a lot of time and some
positions."
But Carpentier recovered with a vengeance. He came back from the spin and passed
Darren Manning on lap 99 to take the checkered flag in eighth place.
"I saved too much of the car during the race," Carpentier said. "I didn't expect
the brakes and the tires to last as long they did. The car was really good at
the end. We ran with the leaders consistently for the first time this year. It
was a good show."