It takes four weeks to put the track up for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. It creates a pain for residents and especially for local business. But sweet relief will be here soon. The race is set to run on Sunday.
Even though the race creates headaches for many residents and businesses, headaches that only get worse on race day, the city of St. Petersburg loves having the event and the economic boost it provides.
Race organizers say they expect 130,000 fans to attend the events of the weekend. More than 27,00 hotel rooms will also be booked over the weekend. The event will be an opportunity for the St. Pete/Clearwater Tourism Bureau to showcase the area to potential tourists.
But not everyone feels the boost the race provides. Some businesses situated along the course are forced to close during construction or see their numbers drop during the same time. The Salvador Dali Museum decided this year that it would not be financially viable to stay open during race weekend. The Dali was open during last year’s race but will use this year to hold staff trainings.
This year’s race will be the 10th anniversary of this iteration of the race, which has been run on and off by different racing circuits since 1985. The IndyCar Series, which has a new title sponsor this year in Verizon, took over the race in 2005.
The current track, which has been used every year by IndyCar, will see the drivers head up First Street SW, turn right onto Beach Drive, turn right again onto Central Avenue and then another quick right turn onto Bay Shore Drive before finishing on the runway of Albert Whitted Airport. Drivers will complete the course 110 times around.
This year’s race has a new title sponsor. The corporate sponsor switched from automaker Honda to tire manufacturer Firestone. The reason behind the change is because Honda pulled its sponsorship after no racers on the circuit were using their engines.
In the 10 years the race has been run under IndyCar, Brazilian Helio Castroneves has won the race three times. Castroneves won back-to-back races in 2006 and 2007, and again in 2012. Canadian James Hinchcliffe won last year’s race.
The inaugural race winner from 2005, Dan Wheldon, passed away in a crash in 2011, and the main straightaway is named Dan Wheldon Way. Wheldon was a resident of St. Petersburg.
The final race begins at 3:20 p.m. Sunday. It will be broadcasted on NBC Sports Network for the second straight year. Spectators can still buy three-day general admission passes for $55. A general admission ticket for Sunday will cost $50.
