Connor De Philliippi, winner 2011 race at St. Petersburg, repeated the feat by leading flag-to-flag in the 2012 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear season-opener at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. 

Starting from the pole in the No. 2 Juncos Racing / ModSpace Racing / One24 Mazda, De Phillippi fought off a late surge by Team Pelfrey’s Jack Hawksworth. Hawksworth  crossed the finish line 0.486 of a second back, but turned the quickest lap of the race and will start from pole in the March 25 race.

"It really was an ideal race in most respects; I got a good start, was able to control the pace and save my tires for the end when I needed them to defend against Jack," De Phillippi said.  "I pulled out a lead of almost two seconds during the race, but then Jack closed it up to nose-to-tail right at the end, so we'll have to have a look at that in the engineering de-briefing, but overall I was very happy with the car that Juncos Racing gave me.

“My only regret is that the grid for the second race, tomorrow, is being set by the quickest lap you turned today, and while I won the race, I only turned the 7th-fast lap, so I'll be starting from a bit back in the field tomorrow.  Fortunately I've done that before and know how to win here even when in involves some passing."

Rounding out the top-3 was rookie Gabriel 'Gabby' Chaves in the #19 JDC Motorsports / OMP Mazda.  Joining them on the podium was the first finisher in the Expert Series top AMA SuperBike racer Larry Pegram. He finished 16th overall in his #72 AIM Autosport / Tampa Bay Jaw Surgery / Foremost Insurance Mazda.

Hawksworth will start on the inside of the front row, with Petri Suvanto alongside. Suvanto is the 2011 USF2000 champion and is racing in Star Mazda this year with scholarship funding from the Mazda Road to Indy ladder program. Juan Piedrahita will start from the inside of Row 2, with Gabby Chaves on the outside.