Defending NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou in the No.10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda says that he was happy with his race as he ended the Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg presented by RP Funding in sixth place having started the race in 13th place. Speaking following the action, the Spaniard commented saying:
“I’m happy with the race. We finished two spots better than what we did last year. We started struggling at the beginning of the weekend, so it was an amazing recovery by Chip Ganassi Racing and the No. 10 DHL Honda team. I’m happy to finish in the top-six and it’s a great start. That first yellow really didn’t help us, as it put everyone in the same position so we had 35 laps less of the race to do something. Looking forward to the races ahead with Thermal and especially Long Beach.”
Six-time series champion Scott Dixon in the No.9 PNC Bank Honda says that it was bit of a bland day. The Iceman started the race from 11th place on the grid and finished the 100 lap race in ninth place and speaking following the action he commented saying:
“It was a bit of a bland day. I thought we had a good situation at the start and then it all kind of closed down to go off-track to make sure that we didn’t hit anybody. There was just no tire degradation so there wasn’t as much racing as I would have liked. Ultimately, I think the PNC Bank crew should have had a fifth, sixth or seventh, so it’s not the absolute best way to start the season.”
Kyffin Simpson in the No.4 Journie Rewards Honda made his INDYCAR debut from 23rd place and came home in 14th place and speaking following the race the Cayman Islands native said:
“What an incredible day. I’m stoked to have such a good first race in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. I felt like we had a good start to the race and then we just kept it clean. It was definitely tight at times with some side-by-side racing, but we were able to push through and keep things clean. We were able to really push it on the greens at the end with great pace. I’m very happy with the entire day for the Journie Rewards team.”
Linus Lundqvist started the race from 19th place and finished the event in 23rd place and speaking following the action he commented saying:
“It was not the day that we wanted to have. I think we were looking really good over the first stint, managing and looking after the car and the tires. We were pushing when we needed to and did a bit of an overcut and gained a few places in the pit stop sequence. I think we did everything we could to maximize our strategy and we were fastest when we needed to be. We were fighting on the edge of the top-10 and then sadly got taken out. It’s quite unfortunate because the guys and girls with the American Legion team did such a phenomenal job to be fighting for that top-10 position. It is a long season and we will definitely bounce back from that and bring the positives from the speed that we had.”
Marcus Armstrong in the No.11 Ridgeline Lubricants Honda started the race from tenth put was forced to retire from the race and speaking following the action he commented saying:
“I was working on a fuel number and touched the brakes and locked the brakes immediately. I’m so disappointed by that mistake and I feel terrible for the No. 11 Chip Ganassi Racing Ridgeline Lubricants group because we were fast. To be honest, we weren’t pushing hard at the time. We were fuel saving and waiting for our time to push. It was a costly mistake and it stinks.”