2010 São Paulo Indy 300
The 2010 São Paulo Indy 300 was the first race of the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series season. The race took place on March 14, on the 2.536-mile (4.081 km) temporary street circuit in São Paulo, Brazil, and was telecast by Versus in the United States. Originally scheduled for 190.2 miles (306.1 km), the race was shortened to 154.696 miles (248.959 km) due to a two-hour time limit brought about by an extended red-flag period due to heavy rain.
| Race details | |
|---|---|
| 1st round of the 2010 IndyCar Series season | |
| Date | March 14, 2010 |
| Official name | São Paulo Indy 300 |
| Location | Santana – São Paulo city |
| Course | Temporary street circuit 2.536 mi / 4.081 km |
| Distance | 61 laps 154.696 mi / 248.959 km |
| Scheduled Distance | 75 laps 190.200 mi / 306.097 km |
| Weather | 75 °F (24 °C), scattered clouds with intermittent rain showers |
| Pole position | |
| Driver | Dario Franchitti (Chip Ganassi Racing) |
| Time | 1:27.7354 |
| Fastest lap | |
| Driver | Will Power (Team Penske) |
| Time | 1:28.1892 (on lap 60 of 61) |
| Podium | |
| First | Will Power (Team Penske) |
| Second | Ryan Hunter-Reay (Andretti Autosport) |
| Third | Vítor Meira (A. J. Foyt Enterprises) |
The race was won by Australian driver Will Power for Team Penske. Power was making his race return after an incident during a practice session at the 2009 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma, which left him with two broken vertebrae in his back. Second place went to Ryan Hunter-Reay, who was making his first start for Andretti Autosport, and third place went to another returnee, A. J. Foyt Enterprises' Vítor Meira. Meira was making his first start since suffering similar injuries to Power, during the 2009 Indianapolis 500.
Four drivers made their IndyCar Series débuts in the race. Former Formula One driver Takuma Sato, Firestone Indy Lights graduates Ana Beatriz and Mario Romancini, and Atlantic Championship title contender Simona de Silvestro were all classified outside the top ten at the conclusion of the race, with de Silvestro leading four laps during the race.