IndyCar - St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg
Display & Timezone
Display & Timezone
Showing times for America/Denver
Timezone
America - Denver
28 Feb - 2 Mar
Completed
St. Petersburg Street Circuit
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Track Info
St. Petersburg Street Circuit - St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
Temporary waterfront street course using downtown roads and a runway at Albert Whitted Airport - clockwise - IndyCar season opener staple
When was the track built?
St. Pete’s course is assembled each spring with temporary barriers and fencing through the waterfront grid, around the Mahaffey Theater and Dali Museum, and across a runway at Albert Whitted Airport. After the original 1985 1990 bayfront era and a brief 1996 1997 layout near Tropicana Field, the modern Grand Prix configuration debuted in 2003 and has been refined for sightlines, safety and pit lane operations.
When was its first race?
The city’s first race events ran in 1985 with SCCA Trans Am and Can Am. IndyCars arrived in 2003, and the Grand Prix has been the traditional IndyCar season opener in most years since 2005.
What's the circuit like?
- Runway launch: A long, wide start finish on the airport runway leads to heavy braking for Turn 1 and a quick change of direction through Turn 2.
- City rhythm: 90 degree corners along Bayshore Drive and Dan Wheldon Way create traction tests and wall proximity that punish tiny errors.
- Key overtakes: Turn 1 after the green flag and restarts, Turn 4 by the marina, and Turn 10 at the end of the back straight are prime passing zones.
- Surface and bumps: Concrete patches and manhole covers keep cars lively on braking. Grip ramps up across the weekend as rubber goes down.
- Benchmark pace: IndyCar race lap record 1:00.6795. Poles often land in the high 58s to low 1:00s depending on conditions.
Lap records and benchmarks (by series)
- IndyCar (race lap): 1:00.6795 - Josef Newgarden, 2024 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
- CART/Champ Car (race lap): 1:01.825 - Sébastien Bourdais, 2003.
- American Le Mans Series LMP1 (race lap): 1:04.725 - Allan McNish, Audi R10 TDI, 2007.
- American Le Mans Series LMP2 (race lap): 1:04.340 - Ryan Briscoe, Porsche RS Spyder Evo, 2007.
- Indy NXT (race lap): 1:04.7732 - Dennis Hauger, 2025.
Why go?
A postcard setting with waterfront views, marina backdrops and grandstands close to the action. The runway start, Turn 1 funnels and late brakers into Turn 10 make for dramatic restarts, while downtown St. Pete’s food and beaches turn race week into a mini holiday.
Where's the best place to watch?
- Turn 1 grandstands: Starts, restarts and bold divebombs off the runway straight with quick direction change into Turn 2.
- Marina complex around Turns 3 5: Great visuals along the waterfront and side by side squeezes.
- Turn 10 braking zone: End of the long back straight on Dan Wheldon Way - classic out braking and switchbacks.
- Final sector: Fast kinks and traction fights back onto the runway where photo finishes happen.
- Main grandstand: Pit stops, strategy swings and the chequered flag with wide sightlines up the runway.
Not just IndyCar: support series at St. Pete
Indy NXT: The top rung of the ladder to IndyCar, often producing photo finishes into Turn 1.
USF Pro 2000 and USF2000: Junior formulas that showcase future stars threading the walls.
Sports cars and touring: The event has hosted American Le Mans Series, Pirelli World Challenge/GT4 America and regional cups on various editions.
Stadium Super Trucks: High-flying support with ramp jumps along the waterfront on selected years.
Hotels & Accommodation
St. Petersburg
28 Feb - 2 Mar
Completed
St. Petersburg Street Circuit
Track Info
St. Petersburg Street Circuit - St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
Temporary waterfront street course using downtown roads and a runway at Albert Whitted Airport - clockwise - IndyCar season opener staple
When was the track built?
St. Pete’s course is assembled each spring with temporary barriers and fencing through the waterfront grid, around the Mahaffey Theater and Dali Museum, and across a runway at Albert Whitted Airport. After the original 1985 1990 bayfront era and a brief 1996 1997 layout near Tropicana Field, the modern Grand Prix configuration debuted in 2003 and has been refined for sightlines, safety and pit lane operations.
When was its first race?
The city’s first race events ran in 1985 with SCCA Trans Am and Can Am. IndyCars arrived in 2003, and the Grand Prix has been the traditional IndyCar season opener in most years since 2005.
What's the circuit like?
- Runway launch: A long, wide start finish on the airport runway leads to heavy braking for Turn 1 and a quick change of direction through Turn 2.
- City rhythm: 90 degree corners along Bayshore Drive and Dan Wheldon Way create traction tests and wall proximity that punish tiny errors.
- Key overtakes: Turn 1 after the green flag and restarts, Turn 4 by the marina, and Turn 10 at the end of the back straight are prime passing zones.
- Surface and bumps: Concrete patches and manhole covers keep cars lively on braking. Grip ramps up across the weekend as rubber goes down.
- Benchmark pace: IndyCar race lap record 1:00.6795. Poles often land in the high 58s to low 1:00s depending on conditions.
Lap records and benchmarks (by series)
- IndyCar (race lap): 1:00.6795 - Josef Newgarden, 2024 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
- CART/Champ Car (race lap): 1:01.825 - Sébastien Bourdais, 2003.
- American Le Mans Series LMP1 (race lap): 1:04.725 - Allan McNish, Audi R10 TDI, 2007.
- American Le Mans Series LMP2 (race lap): 1:04.340 - Ryan Briscoe, Porsche RS Spyder Evo, 2007.
- Indy NXT (race lap): 1:04.7732 - Dennis Hauger, 2025.
Why go?
A postcard setting with waterfront views, marina backdrops and grandstands close to the action. The runway start, Turn 1 funnels and late brakers into Turn 10 make for dramatic restarts, while downtown St. Pete’s food and beaches turn race week into a mini holiday.
Where's the best place to watch?
- Turn 1 grandstands: Starts, restarts and bold divebombs off the runway straight with quick direction change into Turn 2.
- Marina complex around Turns 3 5: Great visuals along the waterfront and side by side squeezes.
- Turn 10 braking zone: End of the long back straight on Dan Wheldon Way - classic out braking and switchbacks.
- Final sector: Fast kinks and traction fights back onto the runway where photo finishes happen.
- Main grandstand: Pit stops, strategy swings and the chequered flag with wide sightlines up the runway.
Not just IndyCar: support series at St. Pete
Indy NXT: The top rung of the ladder to IndyCar, often producing photo finishes into Turn 1.
USF Pro 2000 and USF2000: Junior formulas that showcase future stars threading the walls.
Sports cars and touring: The event has hosted American Le Mans Series, Pirelli World Challenge/GT4 America and regional cups on various editions.
Stadium Super Trucks: High-flying support with ramp jumps along the waterfront on selected years.
