Patrick Carpentier qualifies a Forsythe Racing car in downtown Saint Petersburg

Darren Manning gets up to speed in a Walker Racing machine

Manning's teammate Rodolfo Lavin

Rodolfo Lavin suits-up

Rodolfo prepares to qualify a car that he has only tested in Sebring

Forsythe Racing team member shows lap time to Paul Tracy

Paul Tracy approaches Bayshore Drive

Roberto Gonzalez awaits his turn to qualify

Dale Coyne Racing mechanics prepare cars for Roberto Gonzalez and Joel Camathias

Dale Coyne Racing mechanic

Adrián Fernández watches competitors qualifying on front straight

After suiting-up, Fernández reviews others' qualifying times

Fernández in his cockpit

Bridgestone Potenza, O.Z. Racing wheel, & air wrench

Mario Haberfeld examines his wheel

Mario Haberfeld qualifying for his first Champ Car race

Jimmy Vasser adjusts his helmet fit

... then gets help belting-in and connecting to a radio

Jimmy Vasser's 2003 helmet

Sébastien Bourdais at the first Champ Car venue that he's seen

Craig Hampson advises Sébastien before his first Champ Car qualifying session

Paul Tracy confers with Tony Cicale before qualifying

ever-jovial Roberto Moreno

Moreno seems happy to begin another racing season

Roberto Moreno in pit lane

Rocketsports racer Alex Tagliani inserts earplugs

... dons a balaclava then cinches his suit collar

Tagliani in the turns 11-12 kink that slows racers before the hairpin turn

Oriol Servia's helmets are painted in motifs inspired by Salvador Dalí