ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Helio Castroneves broke an 18-race losing streak with his third career victory at the IndyCar Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
The Penske-Chevrolet driver gambled early on an unorthodox pit strategy, then used superior performance to pass Ganassi-Honda driver Scott Dixon for second on lap 73 of the 100-lap contest. When race leader J.R. Hildebrand pitted, Castroneves took over and couldn’t be caught; he crossed the finish line 5.5 seconds ahead.
“When the yellow came, we just decided to play a different strategy compared to [pole-sitter Will Power] and then a different strategy compared to Ryan [Hunter-Reay,]” Helio said after the race.
“We gambled, but with a safe zone, and it paid off. This is just what we need to start a great season.”
Most drivers made three [pit stops through the course of the 100-lap race, gambling that the fresh tires and the ability to go faster (and burn more fuel) would make up for the time lost in the pits.
Most drivers came in under either the first or second caution periods, when the drivers would lose less track position while the cars circled more slowly.
Castroneves, Dixon, and Hunter-Reay opted to do the race in two stops; this meant conserving tires and fuel. It also meant these drivers would need to decide when to push for position and when to let positions come to them. Castroneves made his moves at the perfect times, and found himself a bit better off late in the race; he had a bit more fuel than Hunter-Reay, and his tires were a little better than Dixon’s.
