in their front yard. “People now know how to plan around it
and businesses have become a lot more savvy with leveraging
of money.”
to build and tear down the track and all its components, has
evolved into a well-oiled machine. Most streets downtown, with the
exception of Bayshore, will remain open until the four days of race
weekend. Race weekend is now a highly anticipated annual event,
attracting not only race fans from near and far, but families and
vacationers.
St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman has become a keen fan of the
race. “Every year, I look forward to the Firestone Grand Prix of
St. Petersburg when our city transforms itself around some of the
greatest racing in the world,” said Kriseman. “It is a pleasure and
PHOTO/BARRY LIVELY
SPOTLIGHT
an honor to lead a city that has the eyes of the racing world on it
but we shine especially bright during the Grand Prix. I look forward to
welcoming back the drivers, the teams, the international media, and
The weekend will feature three days of time trials and championship
for a 198-mile shoot-out on a 1.8-mile course with 14 turns. Festivities
will include a Speed Zone with interactive games and exhibits, a Fan
driver autograph sessions and other events to be announced.
For updated information on the Firestone Grand Prix of St.
Petersburg, go to gpstpete.com
or walking part of the Firestone
Grand Prix track on Friday, March
8, at the 7th Annual Modern
Business Associates 5K Run.
of St. Petersburg. For more
information, go to gpstpete5k.
com
Ticket Information
admission tickets are $55 for
adults and a junior ticket for ages 12 and under is available for
$20 for all ages. General admission does not include a reserved
grandstand seat. 3-Day Grandstand
seats start at $105 and $70 for
juniors. Pit Access and Firestone
Paddock Passes can also be
purchased now. Single-day tickets
will be released for sale closer to
the event.
Want to really get into the race
weekend? Available for a limited
a Paddock Pass for the weekend
unprecedented access to attend the
win a two-seater Indy car ride on track, merchandise discount
and other exclusive experiences. The pass does not include
general admission or a grandstand seat.
Get Down On It
/gpstpete.com