| Race details | |
|---|---|
| Race 1 of 17 in the 2008 IndyCar Series season | |
 | |
| Date | March 29, 2008 |
| Official name | GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300 |
| Location | Homestead-Miami Speedway |
| Course | Permanent racing facility 1.485 mi / 2.390 km |
| Distance | 200 laps 297.000 mi / 477.975 km |
| Weather | 78 °F (26 °C), Fair skies |
| Pole position | |
| Driver | Scott Dixon ( Chip Ganassi Racing) |
| Time | 1:40.2341 (4 laps) |
| Fastest lap | |
| Driver | Ryan Briscoe ( Penske Racing) |
| Time | 25.0624 (on lap 3 of 200) |
| Podium | |
| First | Scott Dixon ( Chip Ganassi Racing) |
| Second | Marco Andretti ( Andretti Green Racing) |
| Third | Dan Wheldon ( Chip Ganassi Racing) |
The 2008 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300 was the opening round of the 2008 IndyCar Series season and took place on March 29, 2008 at the 1.485-mile (2.390 km) Homestead-Miami Speedway. For the first time in series history, the reigning champion was not on the grid to defend his title, as Dario Franchitti had moved to the No. 40 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car for Chip Ganassi Racing. Graham Rahal was supposed to make his debut in this race, however due to a crash in testing his team could not get his car repaired in time for the race. 2003 champion Scott Dixon kicked off the season with the victory, on his way to the series championship.