If the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is any indication of what the 2022 IndyCar season is going to be like, we are in for a treat. Twenty-six cars answered the bell for a season-opener that had six rookie drivers, on a gorgeous day in a beautiful setting in front of a record crowd…plus, it was an interesting and entertaining race that wasn’t settled until the checkered flag flew.
Archive for February, 2022
Random Thoughts on St. Petersburg
Posted in IndyCar on February 28, 2022 by OilpressureBe Surprised, No More
Posted in IndyCar on February 27, 2022 by Oilpressure
If you were surprised that Scott McLaughlin won the pole for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, you were probably surprised the he won the race. Let this be the last time. He’s here to stay.
So Glad I Came
Posted in IndyCar on February 27, 2022 by Oilpressure
I think George has made no secret of the fact that this has not been my favorite IndyCar race. Street courses have their own special something, but I don’t get it–yet. I think if I go to this race another time and the Nashville Race, my tune will change. I hope next time I go to a street circuit I will be closer to 100 percent health-wise. The walking has been difficult—I’m terribly out of shape and chemo has really messed with my thermostat—I’m either profoundly hot or freezing cold. They say time heals, so we will see.
A Surprise on Pole?
Posted in IndyCar on February 26, 2022 by Oilpressure
At first glance, some might say that the pole-winner for Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is a shock. After all, Scott McLaughlin had a very unremarkable rookie season with Team Penske, finishing fourteenth in points. He finished eleventh at St. Petersburg last season. He didn’t have any disastrous races, but never raised eyebrows either. But he arrived from V-8 Super Cars with a ton of hype, causing a lot of the IndyCar media to practically hand him a championship trophy.
Welcome to Day Two at St. Petersburg
Posted in IndyCar on February 26, 2022 by Oilpressure
Good morning from a very sunny and warm Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. About the only negative about this event is the parking. We’ve been lucky enough to find free parking on the street, but it requires a lot of walking. Mrs. Olipressure moves a little more slowly these days, so it took us a while to get inside the track.
St. Petersburg: Day-One Wrap-up
Posted in IndyCar on February 25, 2022 by Oilpressure
Practice One for Race One is now in the books. All the offseason testing is now obsolete information. Who was quickest? Andretti Autosport’s Romain Grosjean. Many have been saying that the pressure is on Grosjean, because he is now with a good team and he will be running all of the races. Well, if he was under pressure this afternoon, he didn’t show it. Grosjean turned the fastest lap of the session with a time of 1:01.0525.
A Somber Moment on a Glorious Day
Posted in IndyCar on February 25, 2022 by Oilpressure
This afternoon, Susan and I attended a memorial service for a legend at IndyCar race tracks that most people had never heard of – Honda’s TE McHale. I would be lying if I said I knew TE McHale. I never met the man, but I knew who he was when I saw him.
Oilpressure 