CASTRONEVES LEADS OPENING DAY AT ST. PETERSBURG

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Friday, March 30, 2007 - Helio Castroneves turned his fastest lap of the day minutes before the checkered flag fell to lead practice as IndyCar® Series teams began preparations for the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on April 1.

Castroneves, the defending winner of the event, lapped the 14-turn, 1.8-mile street circuit in 1 minute, 1.6016 seconds, 105.192 mph, in his No. 3 Team Penske Honda-powered Dallara. Andretti Green Racing's Tony Kanaan, a podium finisher in each of the two previous events in St. Petersburg, was second-quick with a lap of 1:01.6892, 105.043 mph.

Overall, the top four drivers were quicker than Dario Franchitti's 2006 track record. Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon was third while Franchitti was fourth. Marco Andretti was fifth, and 2005 winner Dan Wheldon was sixth.

Single-car qualifying will take place Saturday afternoon followed by the Firestone Fast Six, a 10-minute shootout among the top six cars for the pole position.

Also on Friday, Bobby Wilson led practice for the Indy Pro Series Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Wilson led the 24-car field with a time of 1:07.7336, 95.669 mph in his No. 1 Brian Stewart Racing entry. Robbie Pecorari, Stephen Simpson, Phil Giebler and Alex Lloyd rounded out the top five.

The Indy Pro Series will qualify Saturday morning and hold the first of two 40-lap races of the weekend on Saturday afternoon.

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