St. Petersburg Grand Prix
Race Information
- Course: St. Petersburg street circuit, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
- Course Length: 1.800 miles (2.897 kilometers)
- Distance: 100 Laps, 180 miles
- Date: Sunday, March 10th, 2024
- 2023 Winner: Marcus Ericsson
- Course: St. Petersburg street circuit, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
- Course Length: 1.800 miles (2.897 kilometers)
- Distance: 100 Laps, 180 miles
- Date: Sunday, March 10th, 2024
- 2024 WINNER: Josef Newgarden
🏆 St. Petersburg Grand Prix Odds
The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, enriched with the thrill of Indycar odds, traditionally opens the NTT IndyCar season and has been the initial race since 2009. Debuting in the IndyCar series in 1985, it challenges drivers with the urban circuit of St. Petersburg, Florida. Following a hiatus, the event, formerly known as the Champ Car World Series, returned to St. Petersburg in 2003 on a reconfigured course.
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🚥 What Is the St. Petersburg Street Circuit?
The St. Petersburg Street Circuit, a hallmark of Indycar racing, boasts a challenging 1.8-mile, 14-turn (5 lefts, 9 rights) layout that snakes through the downtown streets of St. Petersburg and includes a portion of Albert Whitted Airport’s runway.
This circuit tests not only the speed but also the strategic prowess of drivers, particularly evident after the long front stretch leading into a tight right-hander at Turn 1 followed by a swift left turn. These initial turns have historically been a critical point during Indycar qualifying sessions, where many drivers have encountered trouble, significantly affecting their position in the Indycar standings.
The circuit’s design, featuring two lengthy straights followed by heavy braking zones, is renowned for its overtaking opportunities. These segments are pivotal for competitors aiming to advance their position within the race and, by extension, improve their overall standing in the series.
The unique combination of city streets and an airport runway provides a dynamic backdrop for the competition, offering a visually engaging experience for fans and participants alike. This venue serves as an essential measure of early-season performance in Indycar racing, where mastering its complex turns and straights can lay the groundwork for a successful season in this highly-competitive motorsport arena.
Indycar Race Schedule
NTT Indycar Series:
- 2:45 p.m. ET – Practice 1
NTT Indycar Series:
- 9:35 a.m. ET – Practice 2
- 2:00 p.m. ET – Qualifications
NTT Indycar Series:
- 12:00 p.m. ET – Race
| POSITION | DRIVER | TEAM |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Josef Newgarden | Team Penske |
| 2 | Pato O’Ward | Arrow McLaren |
| 3 | Scott McLaughlin | Team Penske |
| 4 | Will Power | Team Penske |
| 5 | Colton Herta | Andretti Global |
| 6 | Alex Palou | Chip Ganassi |
| 7 | Felix Rosenqvist | Meyer Shank |
| 8 | Alexander Rossi | Arrow McLaren |
| 9 | Scott Dixon | Chip Ganassi |
| 10 | Rinus VeeKay | Ed Carpenter |
🏁 St. Petersburg History & Highlights
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg first held a race in 1985 thanks to organizer William T. McVey, the McBri Corporation president and IMSA and SCCA member. The event also featured support races from the SCCA Trans-Am series and Can-Am in 1985. From 1985 through 1990, it was the St. Petersburg Grand Prix.
Jim Fitzgerald, a champion in SCCA racing, died during a Trans-Am race in 1987. The event was put on hiatus until 1996, when it was revived in a circuit around Tropicana Field, the home of the MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays. Through 1997 the event was supported by Formula Ford, World Challenge, and other lower-level racing series.
The event went on hiatus once again until the 2003 Indycar season. The Champ Car World Series (later IndyCar) raced on a 14-corner course similar to the original waterfront layout from 1985 but with some modifications. Paul Tracy won that race for Forsythe Racing. The race was not held in 2004 due to disputes between promoters and the liquidation of CART into the Champ Car World Series.
The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg returned in 2005 for the new IndyCar series with Honda as the title sponsor. Dan Wheldon won that first IndyCar race for Andretti Green Racing. Helio Castroneves won the next two Indycar races for Team Penske in 2006 and 2007.
Firestone took over title sponsorship for the race starting in 2014. It was moved to late-February or early March starting in 2016, with an exception for the COVID-19-affected 2020 season.
Castroneves has the most wins at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg with three. Team Penske has the most wins as a team with 11.
Circuit Information
The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is a road course in St. Petersburg, Florida. It’s a clockwise circuit that incorporates part of the City of St. Petersburg Airport. It winds through nearby streets and along the Tampa Bay shoreline.
Conor Daly set the IndyCar record for the fastest lap with a time of 1:00.986 in 2022 with his Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet.
