Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
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| Location |
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA 27°45′59″N 82°37′45″W / 27.76639°N 82.62917°WCoordinates: 27°45′59″N 82°37′45″W / 27.76639°N 82.62917°W |
|---|---|
| Corporate sponsor | Firestone |
| First race | 1985 |
| First IndyCar race | 2005 |
| Distance | 198 mi (319 km) |
| Laps | 110 |
| Previous names |
St. Petersburg Grand Prix (1985-1990) Kash n' Karry Florida Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (1996-1997) Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (2005–2013) Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (2014-present) |
| Most wins (driver) | Hélio Castroneves (3) |
| Most wins (team) | Team Penske (8) |
| Most wins (manufacturer) | Dallara (12) Honda (7) |
| Surface | Asphalt/Concrete |
| Length | 1.8 mi (2.9 km) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Lap record | Will Power (1:00.2450, Dallara DW12, 2016, Verizon Indycar Series) |
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is a Verizon IndyCar Series race held in St. Petersburg, Florida. Since 2009, the race has served as the season opener, with the exception of 2010, when it was the second race of the season (but the first on U.S. soil). The race is held annually in the spring, currently in March.
The race takes place on a temporary course, utilizing downtown streets, and two runways of Albert Whitted Airport. The event dates back to 1985, with Indy cars first competing in 2003.
The SCCA Trans-Am Series held a race on a St. Petersburg downtown waterfront circuit from 1985 to 1990. Can-Am also competed in 1985. Local residents and businesses complained about noise, and the event was eventually put on hiatus. Driver Jim Fitzgerald was killed in a crash during the 1987 race. Racing in the Tampa Bay Area was then moved across town for a couple years. An IMSA race at the Florida State Fairgrounds was held in 1989 and 1990.
In 1996-1997, the St. Petersburg race was revived on a different course around Tropicana Field (about one mile west of the original waterfront course). Along with the Trans-Am Series, support races included U.S. FF2000, World Challenge, Pro SRF, and Barber Dodge. The event subsequently went again on hiatus for several years.
In 2003, the event was revived again for the Champ Car series. A new, modified version of the original 1985–90 waterfront circuit was created.
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