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City gears up for Grand Prix

Veronica Brezina

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Grand Prix
The 2021 Firestone Grand Prix. City of St. Petersburg photo.

The towering metal bleachers are being installed in front of Albert Whitted Airport while workers build the 1.8-mile track for St. Pete’s most anticipated car race – the annual Firestone Grand Prix.

The metal bleachers being installed in front of Albert Whitted Airport for the 2023 Firestone Grand Prix. Photo by Veronica Brezina.

Drivers will race through the streets surrounding the downtown waterfront next month in the season-opening event for the NTT Indy Car Series. It’s the 13th St. Pete competition.

The race days run March 3-5. The 14-turn track winds in front of the Dali Museum and on the airport runway.

The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is the first of 17 rounds in the 2023 NTT IndyCar Series schedule.

Workers creating the track for the 2023 Firestone Grand Prix. Photo by Veronica Brezina.

The IndyCar Party, which kicks off the event, will be held at North Straub Park from 5:30-8 p.m. The drivers are expected to attend, meet the public and display their cars.

Coinciding with the kickoff party will be a 5k for runners and walkers to “race on the track.” The Wellcare Ambetter Health 5K is set for March 2 at 6 p.m. This will be the first time the 5k is being held since it went on hiatus in 2019.

The Police Athletic League (PAL) of St. Petersburg will be the beneficiary of the 5K, receiving all of the proceeds from registrations.

The race will start and end on Bay Shore Drive NE, adjacent to North Straub Park, and will join the Firestone Grand Prix racetrack at Turn 9 along Central Avenue, where participants will proceed onto the track. The route is fully paved.

Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg website 

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