8 minute read
Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Celebrates 20 Years
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 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 Memorial is located next to The Dali Museum on the opposite side of Turn 10, where race winners have their names placed on the monument in a lasting celebration each year.
Challenges lay ahead
Despite expected complaints about crowds, street closures and noise from downtown residents and businesses in the first several years, every city administration following Rick Baker (Bill Foster, Rick Kriseman, Ken Welch) continued to work to keep residents and businesses appeased, while supporting the race. Then came two major challenges.
“Covid was the biggest challenge so far, although the economic downfall in 2008-2009 had a big impact,” said Green. “Covid was tough. On the Friday morning of the 2020 race, when NBC said they weren’t going to come in to broadcast, that was it. Even though the grandstands were up and we were ready to go, we had to send everybody home. We rain-checked everyone’s tickets.
“The following year we ran two races to catch up — in October with limited crowds and lots of protocols and the following April race was also a limited crowd. In 2022 we came back with a bounce, and 2023 was a great year. Hopefully things will keep going well; we are optimistic. The race has a contract with the city through 2028.”
The City of St. Petersburg has held up to its moniker as “The Sunshine City” for race fans to enjoy from near and far year after year. There has only been one rainout (that race was moved to a Monday) in the race’s 20-year history.
Over the years, racing greats such as Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, Scott Dixon, Will Power, Danica Patrick, Marco Andretti and Dario Franchitti have competed in St. Pete. Four-time Champ Car World Series championship driver and St. Pete resident Sebastien Bourdais won back-to-back races in 2017 and 2018 with Dale Coyne Racing, but he now competes in other racing series. Each year, former competitors join new ones at the start line and chase after the checkered flag. The fans come, the grandstands come alive, and St. Pete (and the world) gets to experience another exciting Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
“All the teams love coming here,” assured Kim Green. “They love the racetrack, they love the city.”
If you go
For the most current event updates and to purchase tickets for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg March 8-10, go to gpstpete.com. To read current policies and important festival information, check out gpstpete.com/ festival/additional-info
Festivities will include a Speed Zone with interactive games and exhibits, food and beverage offerings near Gasoline Alley, driver autograph sessions and other events to be announced. Paddock access is free on Friday to get up close to the cars and drivers. New this year, kids ages 5-12 can participate in Rookie Racers, a program that immerses kids in the racing experience with exclusive activities. Rookie Racers memberships can be found at gpstpete.com. Live national broadcast of the Sunday race will air on NBC.
All information is subject to change.
Call for Volunteers
More than 450 dedicated volunteers are needed to work the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Volunteers should be available the entire race weekend, attend training sessions and must be 18 or older. Learn how to volunteer at gpstpete.com/contact/volunteer.
Getting to the Race
Park Downtown: The Southcore Parking Garage is $10 all-day event rate on Friday and a $25-allday event rate on Saturday and Sunday.
Park and Ride Shuttle from the Trop: There is a free shuttle service from Tropicana Field to the racecourse. Park in Lots 1 and 2 located off 16 Street South and 4th Avenue South at Tropicana Field. The cost to park will be $15 and credit card payment only. The shuttle operates all three race days from 7 am to 7 pm (subject to change depending on race schedule).
SunRunner Rapid Transit: Catch a ride with the SunRunner, PSTA’s Bus Rapid Transit system with service between St. Pete Beach and downtown St. Pete along 1st Avenue N. and 1st Avenue S. every 15 minutes until 8pm and every 30 minutes until midnight.
Take the Trolley: The Looper Downtown Trolley and Central Avenue Trolley offers rides throughout Grand Prix weekend at no cost. The Looper provides a circular route between the city’s parking facilities, hotels, restaurants, and attractions downtown, while the Central Avenue Trolley provides service from the Grand Central terminal through the Grand Central and EDGE Districts into downtown.
For updated parking information, check the City of St. Petersburg Facebook page or go to stpete.org.
