ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The temporary race track is being built in just 18 days, and Indy car teams, officials, and St. Pete and Pinellas County dignitaries couldn’t be happier.
According to Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, last year’s race had an economic impact of $61 million.
But young driver Nikita Johnson, who’s from nearby Gulfport, has his own reason.
“I like being able to sleep in my own bed and cook,” Johnson said. “That’s a pretty nice feature I get to have when I race in my hometown.”
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Johnson was the first driver to win on all three levels of the USF Pro Championships ladder and says he wants to dominate this season, and there is no better way to start than here in St. Pete.
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, presented by RP Funding, celebrates its 20th annual, running March 8-10 through the streets downtown and waterfront, and once again kicks off the NTT INDYCAR SERIES for the 14th year.
Last year’s winner in the big St. Pete race, Marcus Ericsson, is from Sweden and says he’ll have many family members coming over to see him start his race in St. Pete.
“There’s only two races my family makes sure they come to,” Ericsson said. “That’s the Indy 500 and the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Pete. It’s a special place here for me and my family, and I can’t wait to be here as the defending winner. That’s going to be super cool.”
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This course is a 1.8-mile, 14-turn waterfront circuit. Building the track started Thursday and will be put together by roughly 300 workers. With the growth of downtown St. Pete you’d think it would be more difficult to construct the track.
But there are 18 days to get it done this year as an event record. This year, teardown and removal are expected to be completed within one week.
It’s the only NTT INDYCAR SERIES race in Florida. There will be eight races in total.INDYCAR Party in the Park is Thursday, March 7. The following night, it’s A Grand Prix Evening – Celebrating 20 Years of Champions, and a Brett Michaels Concert on Saturday, March 9.
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