ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Vincent Jackson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drew a cheer from the crowd growing in front of the Team Penske workspace in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg paddock, but he pointed to Helio Castroneves moving in for a handshake.
"It's game day for him," said Jackson, who was the grand marshal for the Verizon IndyCar Series season opener on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn street circuit. "He deserves an ovation."
Jackson, who gave the command to start the Chevrolet and Honda engines, and Castroneves exchanged a Hitachi Team Penske shirt (XX large) and a Bucs jersey after the 30-minute warm-up for the 110-lap race. Jackson also presented Green Savoree Racing Promotions principals Kim Green and Kevin Savoree, owners of the event held every year since 2005, jerseys with their names on the back.
"I'm a local (year-round Tampa resident) and I've come to this race for the last few years. This is an honor to be part of this event," Jackson said. "It's always entertaining, it's always a great draw and the racing is phenomenal. This is a new role for me not being a spectator and getting to know some of these guys and be part of the event. I'm a car guy and having Helio show me his (No. 3 Hitachi Chevrolet) close up is exciting."
Herta, Gordon will join Walk of Fame
Verizon IndyCar Series team owner and former Indy car driver Bryan Herta and Indy car race winner Robby Gordon will be inducted into the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame on April 16 as part of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach race weekend.
Herta, whose Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian will enter the No. 98 Honda driven by series rookie Gabby Chaves in the 41st Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, drove to third-place finishes in the 1998 and ’99 races on the street circuit.
“I had a pole at Long Beach and led three of the races, but it’s one that got away from me,” Herta said. “To be inducted into the Walk of Fame is incredibly special for me because it’s my home race.”
Gordon finished third in the 1994 IndyCar race at Long Beach and posted victories in the 1992 Trans-Am Series and the 2014 Formula Off-Road Series races.
Both are Southern California residents. The Walk of Fame medallions include renditions of the racers’ cars and their major achievements in motorsports.
Of note
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Alex Cobb was the honorary starter. ... Baltimore Orioles catcher J.P Arencebia and his wife, Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry, watched the race from the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports pit box of longtime friend James Hinchcliffe. Also, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing co-owner David Letterman watched the race from the team’s pit box. … Lisa Boggs, director of Bridgestone Americas Motorsports, presented a $10,000 check to Racing For Kids, which uses the popularity of motorsports to focus public attention and funding on the health-care needs of children. ... Will Power has led a lap in the past six races in St. Petersburg. ... Castroneves' Lap 90 (1:01.8607) was the quickest race lap of the races 2005-2015 under INDYCAR sanction.