Fast Streets, Fast Images Story and Photos by Dwight Drum
In sleepy downtown St. Petersburg normally the fastest phenomenon are the cloud shadows cast by blitzing summer storms -- not in Spring though, typically a dry time of the year. Temperate days in April please most residents before all are subject to relentless humidity from June to October. These tame days may also be perfect climate for roaring open-wheel racecars sliding around streets meant for pedestrians and slow traffic.
It takes real horsepower to awaken the citizens of St. Pete and Tampa as the metropolis surrounding Tampa Bay is one of the top national motorsports markets. In this savvy environment a big-time race is as welcome as air conditioning, but the popular ESPN broadcast focusing on sunshine and speed appeals beyond geographical limitations. And every year crowds and viewers continue to multiply for the Honda Grand Prix.
Quick Quote:
"I know this city pretty well," said Mayor Rick Baker. "I come out here on race day and I'm not quite sure where I am sometimes because you have created a whole another thing out of the downtown part of the city."
The big winner at St. Pete was supposed to be Helio Castroneves because of his two previous victories or Tony Kanaan with one of his hard-charging finales, but with 19 year-old Graham Rahal surging to the finish line, the biggest winners may have been the IndyCar Series and the city of St. Petersburg. It seems the speed genes got passed from father Bobby Rahal who had talent to spare as a three-time CART champion and Indy 500 winner. Having the young Rahal excel on the first road course for the unified IRL and Champ Car series in 2008 brings even more focus to the photogenic city. The return of a revered name in open-wheel racing to the winner's circle early in the season and during the initial days of the merger gives the combined oval and road course sanction a huge jump start.
Graham Rahal and team obviously brought road course expertise to the IndyCar Series. Oval racing may continue to be a challenge to former Champ Car drivers as they assault constant left-turn learning curves, but to have a Rahal win now brings a sense of balance to unification… already.
Quick Quote:
"You know what's nice about it is just walking around St. Pete here,"Scott Goodyear said. "I've seen what I've never seen at races before since I've been covering for ABC and ESPN on the IndyCar Series on the IRL side. What's nice about it about walking around here I've noticed people wearing CART shirts."
Graham Rahal calmly sipping liquids before the big race
The St. Pete venue has been described as picturesque and worldly by participants and fans. Aerial shots of the race course by the harbor, down the airport runway around and close to city structures produce a spectacle nothing short of enchanting.
Quick Quote:
"There was a lot of planning that went into this race and with the city of St. Petersburg to get the track right," Acura Manager Susie Rossick said. "And to be as undisruptive to the city as we could when we were setting up the track."
Prior to the start of Sunday's race an announcement about the city inking a four year extension lifting the known future of the race to five full years.
Mayor Rick Baker assured all that the proposed new baseball stadium which is seeking a location overlooking the harbor would also have to accommodate street configuration necessary for the Grand Prix race.
(c)2008 Dwight Drum Image availability courtesy of the IndyCar Series