This weekend Florida hosts the final and deciding round of the NTT IndyCar Series, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. It’s the 15th consecutive year that the Series champion will be determined at the final race of the season and the first time the streets of St Petersburg will act as the final deciding round.
Either Scott Dixon or Josef Newgarden will emerge as 2020 champion with a 32-point advantage for Dixon heading into the 100-lap decider.
“It was definitely a trying last few race weekends between Mid-Ohio and Indy, said Dixon. “I’m still mad at myself for making that mistake at Mid-Ohio and letting those points get away.
“As always, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES points title comes down to the last race, and even without the double points like we’ve seen before.
“I’m just really proud of this PNC Bank team and everyone who works so hard to win. Honda has been pushing hard, and we’re always proud to be powered by them along with HPD.
“For whatever reason, we were just struggling to get comfortable with the balance of the car the last few races and that’s one of the key things we’ll be working on for St. Petersburg.”
Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (100 laps/180 miles) is timed to go at 2:32pm local time (7:32am NZ time)
Championship Facts:
Scott Dixon leads the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship with one race to go for the fifth time since 2008. Dixon, who has led the championship after every round this season, has won the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship three of the previous four times he led the championship (2008, 2013 and 2018).
There are two drivers mathematically eligible for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship: Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden. Dixon has won five NTT INDYCAR SERIES championships while Newgarden has won the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship twice in the last three seasons (2017 and 2019).
This is the 17th Indy car race on the streets of St. Petersburg and the first time that the Indy car championship will be decided at the track. The temporary street circuit routinely hosts the season-opening race and has done so since 2011.
The winner at St. Petersburg has gone on to win the championship five times: Paul Tracy (2003), Dan Wheldon (2005), Dario Franchitti (2011), Will Power (2014) and Josef Newgarden (2019).
Race Notes:
This will mark the first time that the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has served as INDYCAR’s championship-deciding race. This will be the 17th race overall, dating to Paul Tracy winning the CART-sanctioned race in 2003.
The St. Petersburg INDYCAR race has been run every year since 2003 except for 2004. No driver has competed in every St. Petersburg race, but Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan have started 15 consecutive races. Only Dixon is entered this year. Sebastien Bourdais and Ryan Hunter-Reay competed in the first race in 2003.
Scott Dixon seeks his first win on the streets of St. Petersburg. Dixon’s five NTT INDYCAR SERIES championships trail only the seven titles collected by A.J. Foyt. Dixon is third on the all-time Indy car victory list with 50 but has never won at St. Petersburg. He has four runner-up finishes at the circuit, including in 2019.
Will Power (2010 and 2014) and Sebastien Bourdais (2017 and 2018) are the only entered drivers to win at St. Petersburg more than once. Helio Castroneves won three times (2006, 2007, 2012), while Juan Pablo Montoya won in 2015 and 2016. Past winners Graham Rahal (2008) and Josef Newgarden (2019) are also entered.
Team Penske has won the pole position nine of the past 13 St. Petersburg races, including eight of the last 10 poles by Will Power. Past pole winners Sebastien Bourdais (2003), Graham Rahal (2009) and Takuma Sato (2014) are also entered this weekend.
Two drivers have won the race from the pole – Helio Castroneves (2007) and Will Power (2010). The St. Petersburg winner has qualified fourth in four of the last seven seasons.
Team Penske has won at St. Petersburg nine times, including five of the last eight races with Helio Castroneves (2012), Will Power (2014), Juan Pablo Montoya (2015-16) and Josef Newgarden (2019).
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