SPL EVENTS
BY MARCIA BIGGS ST. PETERSBURG - The weekend of March 8-10 will mark a milestone when the sounds and sights of NTT IndyCar Series racing take to the streets for the 20th annual running of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. Race weekend has become a much anticipated event, an economic generator that brings in teams, vendors and race fans from across the country who spend money in hotels, restaurants, shops and cultural institutions. Often called “IndyCar’s version of Monaco” with its spectacular waterfront track winding through downtown, past yachts and the eye-catching Dali Museum, the race also reaches a global television audience reaching millions of viewers worldwide with the race broadcast in over 200 countries — priceless promotion for the city as a tourism destination. This year’s race weekend promises to be bigger and better than ever, with five different racing series scheduled to compete on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn street course that circles Pioneer Park, the Duke Energy Center for the Arts, The Dali Museum and extends onto the runways at Albert Whitted Airport. In addition to the NTT IndyCar Series headlining race on Sunday, March 10, fans can watch INDY NXT by Firestone, USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire,USF2000 Presented by Continental Tire, and new this year, the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge that features Le Mans Prototype (LMP3) and Grand Touring 4 (GT4) race cars in 45-minute sprint races. Last year’s NTT IndyCar Series race winner, Marcus Ericsson, will be aiming to repeat his success with a new race team, Andretti Global, but he’ll be up against some formidable foes who have also claimed wins in St. Pete, including: Scott McLaughlin (2022), Colton Herta (2021), Josef Newgarden (2019, 2020), Will Power (2010, 2014) and Graham Rahal (2008). As in previous years, runners and walkers will get the unique opportunity to access part of the race course during a 5K Run & Walk benefiting the Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg on Thursday, March 7. The 5K will start on Bayshore Drive NE, adjacent to North Straub Park, where the annual Party in the Park
46 StPeteLifeMag.com
January/February 2024
will be taking place concurrently. The party is free and offers a chance to get up close to the race cars, get driver autographs and enjoy other interactive features. A look in the rearview mirror In 2003, Mayor Rick Baker took a leap of faith and gave his blessing to be a host city for the 2003 Champ Car World Series season. This inaugural race had 19 cars competing, and although deemed a success, the series itself was in financial disarray and organizers canceled the 2004 race in St. Pete. Enter Kim Green and Kevin Savoree, experienced motorsports team owners and race organizers, with a pitch to bring an annual IndyCar street race to town. “St. Pete was a much different city back then,“ said Kim Green, who is now co-owner and CEO of Green Savoree Racing Promotions. “But Rick Baker had the vision and understood the benefits to the city. He was a great supporter and very influential, he was also from Indianapolis and a race fan.” But putting on the first IndyCar race in 2005 was not going to be a cakewalk. “We had to work with not only the city, but the (Tampa Bay) Rays because we needed the parking lots at Al Lang Stadium,” Green recalled. “Spring training games had to be moved, but everyone worked together. “That first time was tough. We (Green Savoree Racing Promotions) failed miserably losing a lot of money, but we knew the venue was very, very good. So, during the next year, Kevin spent a lot of time getting the event reorganized to be financially successful. Now it’s become the biggest race event on the West Coast of Florida and has helped put St. Pete on the map worldwide.” That first year, a young St. Pete driver, ex-pat Brit Dan Wheldon, won the race with Andretti Green Racing; he went on to win the Indy 500 that year. His presence as a hometown hero helped to garner interest in the event. Tragically, he was killed in a crash in Las Vegas in 2011; the city dedicated one of the link roads to the airfield as Dan Wheldon Way. A permanent Dan Wheldon
PHOTOS/Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Celebrates 20 Years
