AR1.com team wins St. Petersburg GP Kart race

The winning AutoRacing1.com team of Wayde Alfarone, Larry Schumacher, Glenn Howell, Spencer Pigot and Scott Morris

AutoRacing1.com (AR1.com) sent four staff members to participate in Tuesday's Honda Grand Prix of St. Pete media kart race with IndyCar and other pro drivers and members of the media, in a lead-up to the March 24-26 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

The event was held at the impressive Andersen Racing Park in Palmetto, FL just minutes away from the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (GPSP) location, on their state-of-the-art kart racing course, in equally prepared Honda powered go-karts. The Anderson team also promotes and runs the USF2000, which is a rung on the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system that feeds into IndyCar

After a quick greeting by St. Pete Mayor Bill Foster and executives from the race and promotion staff of the GPSP and the Andersen facility, the pro drivers were introduced.:

Marco Andretti – IndyCar – Racing for WTSP Channel 10 News and Team Univision
Simon Pagenaud – IndyCar – Racing for the Tampa Bay Times and Team Univision
Peter Dempsey – Indy Lights – Racing for Rocket Sports & Entertainment
Jacob Wilson – Indy Lights – Racing for Bay News 9
Spencer Pigot – USF2000 – Racing for Team AR1.com
Matthew Brabham – USF2000 – Racing for Team Spirit 90.5 FM
Shannon McIntosh – USF2000 – Racing for ABC Action News
Shea Holbrook – Acura World Challenge – Racing for ILovetheburg.com
Anders Krohn – Former Indy Lights driver– Racing for WWPR radio

The AR1.com team consisted of our contributing photographer and columnist(s) Scott Morris, Wayde Alfarone, Larry Schumacher, and Glenn Howell.

After a quick 20 minute practice session where everyone got only two laps to familiarize themselves with the cars and learn the track, the race began LeMans style for a 1 hour enduro.

For some reason, the organizers decided to put Team AR1.com at the very back of the field, but we were not worried.

By the end of the second lap, Spencer Pigot had brought the AR1.com kart up to fifth place, battling hard with Marco Andretti. Each would pass and repass each other for position. Even though this was a fun event, the testosterone was running very high and the competitive spirit turned it into a real contest much like any other.

When Spencer Pigot brought the kart in for a driver change, he had team AR1.com in fourth, behind WWPR (Anders Krohn team), RocketSports (Peter Dempsey Team) and WTSP (Marco Andretti team). Marco Andretti had the AR1.com team in his gun sights after the recent Parking Gate episode and had fire in his eyes. He drove for both the WTSP team and also did a stint for the Tampa Bay Times team. He wanted to beat us bad.

But the AR1.com team was up for the challenge. Scott Morris jumped into the kart for the 2nd stint and by the third turn had taken the kart to the lead and quickly pulled away. By the end of the 2nd segment, team AR1.com had almost lapped the entire field.

Wayde Alfarone continued the pace for AR1.com, as did Larry Schumacher, and Glenn Howell, all driving a flawless race.

All of the pro drivers were required to run the final stint of the race, and when Spencer Pigot took over the kart for the AR1.com team he was nearly two laps up on the field. Spencer brought the kart home in champion style to take the checkered flag and bring home the honors for AR1.com.

Rocket Sports Entertainment with Peter Dempsey finished second and the Tampa Bay Times team with Marco Andretti finished third, with Marco edging out Spencer Pigot for fast time of the day, turning double duty for two different teams.

All of the teams got to experience the thrill of racing wheel to wheel. The losers promised to take it to us next year! Of course we here at AR1.com welcome any challenge, and thank the GPSP organizers and the Andersen Race Park staff for hosting the event.

Fun was had by all.

Results

Photos

She kept asking for some wickerbill…	Kim Green	Simon Pagenaud	Marco Andretti	Dan Andersen
Tim Ramsberger	St. Pete Mayor Bill Foster	Shea Holbrook	Spencer Pigot	Marco Andretti
The roster of pro drivers	A LeMans style start, and they put Team AR1 at the back!	Spencer Pigot makes a good start a charges to the front	passing karts already…	Spencer Pigot puts the pressure on Marco Andretti
Spencer Pigot pushes Marco a little wide…	Still fighting for the spot	Spencer Pigot makes the pass on Marco Andretti, but they swapped back and forth all day	Nice to be able to race with the pro drivers…	Larry Schumacher with Marco Andretti
Peter Dempsey says "who are these guys on this Team AR1 and why are they so bloody quick?"	Larry Schumacher gets ready fro his stint in the kart	Simon Pagenaud gets ready to run	Wayde Alfarone stretching out the Team AR1.com lead	Wayde Alfarone chasing down another one!
Wayde Alfarone takes two at a time!	Larry Schumacher makes another pass	Larry Schumacher keeps it cool	Someone gets it turned around…	Larry Schumacher showing the perfect line
Team AR1.com making a quick driver change	Team AR1.com takes a commanding lead!	Glenn Howell battling with Simon Pagenaud	Spencer Pigot bringing it home in the closing laps	Marco Andretti and Simon Pagenaud having a good dice
Spencer Pigot with one lap to go…	Look Ma! No hands! Spencer Pigot takes the checker with Team AR1.com!	The 1st place trophies	Team AR1.com on top of the podium	Team AR1.com takes the win
Larry Schumacher, Wayde Alfarone, Glenn Howell, Spencer Pigot, Scott Morris	The winning AR1.com team of Larry Schumacher, Scott Morris, Glenn Howell, Wayde Alfarone, Spencer Pigot	Scott Morris, Spencer Pigot