Brazil P3: Power Quickest, Qualifying Postponed

With the front straight away being excessively bumpy and slippery, some described it as driving on ice and glass, qualifying for the Sao Paolo Indy 300 has been delayed until Sunday morning. The revised schedule will run as follows: a 15-minute warm-up session at 8:00am (7:00am EST), with qualifications immediately afterward. The race will start at 11:30, as was originally scheduled.

Saturday's qualifying session was replaced by a third practice session, allowing teams an additional chance to tune their cars to the other areas of the track.

Over the course of all three sessions, such drivers as Ryan Briscoe, Will Power, Danica Patrick, Ana Beatriz, Mario Moraes, and several others all fell victim to the treacherous front-straightaway

The series issued this statement, addressing the circuit issues:

"We continue to work with circuit designer Tony Cotman and the promoter to fine tune the track with the feedback we’ve received from the drivers. This process is no different than any other new circuit we visit for the first time. Tony Cotman has done a great job creating a fast and racy track that will be a challenge to these world-class competitors while putting on a great show for our enthusiastic fans. We appreciate our drivers’ feedback as we want to make this a track they will enjoy to drive."

Late this evening, around 6:15 p.m., Brazil time, a grinder will be brought in to, hopefully, take out the bumps on the front straightaway, making it drivable. Many drivers were seen counter-steering down that stretch, illustrating how slick that area was.

In the practice the was held in place of qualifying, Will Power turned the quickest lap time, with the Andretti Autosport duo of Tony Kanaan and Ryan Hunter-Reay right behind in second and third. Justin Wilson, of Dreyer and Reinbold Racing, and Dario Franchitti, of Target Chip Ganassi Racing, rounded out the top five.

Will Power said, despite the issues, that circuit was actually very good.

"I like the circuit. I think it was a good decision to qualify (March 14)," Power said. "It is a little tough going down the slippery start/finish straight. It will be a very physical race. Everyone got closer (in lap times) toward the end of the (final practice) session, which will make qualifying tighter and make it better for the fans.”

Qualifying will take place at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow. (7:30 EST)

Practice 3 Rundown

1. Will Power
2. Tony Kanaan
3. Ryan Hunter-Reay
4. Justin Wilson
5. Dario Franchitti
6. Raphael Matos
7. Scott Dixon
8. Alex Tagliani
9. Marco Andretti
10. Helio Castroneves
11. Ryan Briscoe
12. Danica Patrick
13. E.J. Viso
14. Dan Wheldon
15. Vitor Meira
16. Simona de Silvestro
17. Takuma Sato
18. Alex Lloyd
19. Mike Conway
20. Hideki Mutoh
21. Mario Moraes
22. Mario Romincini
23. Ana Beatriz
24. Milka Duno

Full results of the 3rd free practice session on São Paulo