Aside from installation laps, in the first 10 minutes the action was provided by rookies, as they were granted an extra set of primaries for this session. Andretti Autosport-Honda’s newcomer Devlin DeFrancesco was the first to break the 62sec barrier around this 1.8-mile course, clocking a 61.8256sec lap, an average of 104.811mph.
His former Indy Lights teammate Kyle Kirkwood got very close in the AJ Foyt Racing-Chevrolet, and eventually surpassed him, but by then three-time St. Pete winner Helio Castroneves had vaulted the Meyer Shank Racing-Honda to the top with a 61.6086.
That time held strong until Andretti Autosport’s veterans hit the track, at which point the team’s star signing Romain Grosjean delivered a 61.0525sec, with defending St. Pete winner 0.3241sec back.
At this point, top Chevrolet performer in third was Team Penske’s series sophomore Scott McLaughlin in third, until teammate and nine-time St. Pete polesitter Will Power slotted into second overall.
Herta…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Motorsport.com – All – Stories…