AFS/AGR #26 driver J.R. Hildebrand will start from the pole

St. PETERSBURG, Fla. - AFS/AGR #26 driver J.R. Hildebrand will start from the pole for the first race of the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Firestone Indy Lights doubleheader. Hildebrand had a best-lap speed of 1:07.7704 mph. Hildebrand's teammate, Sebastian Saavedra, driver of the #27 AFS/AGR car, will start in the third position. Saavedra posted a best-lap speed of 1:07.8171 mph.

AFS/AGR #26 driver J.R. Hildebrand Credit: Shawn Payne/Indy Lights

Coverage of both races can be seen on Versus on Monday, April 6, 2009, starting at 6 p.m. (EDT).

"You can't start a season much better. We had a really good session. It was a little bit broken up because the cars were really slipping around because the track hasn't really gripped up after the rain. I think I went out too aggressive because I remembered how the track was last year at the end of the day. I had to tone it down a little bit because I actually knocked the wall a little with my first set of tires. But I got it all together and was able to put in a good lap at the end. It was just a good session for me and a good session as a team. It's a great way to start the season."

"Today's qualifying was unbelievable. Since I have never been on this track, I didn't know what to expect. We went out this morning and it was raining, so it was hard to really learn the track, but then we went back out after the rain had cleared and I did. I was P1 at one point and then spun out at the last turn, but my teammate (J.R. Hildebrand) got the pole so I'm very happy for him and his crew. The AFS/AGR crew has done a great job both on the track and off the track. It shows what a great team I'm on and makes be even more excited about this season."

Print This Page	Go back to the previous page