Courtesy of Max Steele | The Crow’s Nest
By Max Steele
The city of St. Petersburg once again proves to be an exceptional place to host the Firestone Grand Prix and kickoff the 2022 NTT IndyCar Series, according to racers and fans.
“I’ve always loved this place; the atmosphere, the vibes, the restaurants,” Mexican IndyCar Series racer Pato O’Ward told The Crow’s Nest. “This town is really cool and a great location to start the [Series].”
Racers say the tropical weather, beautiful harborside views and bustling city life is what makes St. Petersburg such an ideal spot for the races.
“This is my second time here racing in the streets of St. Petersburg,” U.S. F2000 racer Jackson Lee told The Crow’s Nest. “This is one of my favorite events. It’s such a cool place to start the season off at; the atmosphere is amazing and the track is really fun as well. I love this place.”
The Grand Prix’s newly introduced Party in the Park event on Saturday at North Straub Park was a hit among racers, fans and locals, attracting around 500 people to the waterside grounds.
The event featured a stage with guest speakers, autograph signings, photo opportunities, live interviews and a dozen IndyCars showcased across the lawn.
Rookie IndyCar Series racer David Malukas spoke high praises of the city and racecourse while speaking on stage at Party in the Park.
“I love being in IndyCar and in St. Pete. There’s no better place to start than here,” the 20-year-old Lithuanian-American racer said. “The course is very smooth and cool. My favorite part is seeing the boats in the harbor coming into turn 10.”
Aside from its location, this year’s Grand Prix has also received attention for a female athlete breaking norms in a male-dominated industry.
Colombian IndyCar Series driver Tatiana Calderón debuted in the competition as the first full-time female driver since 2013, following Simona De Silvestro’s participation in the category.
“[The IndyCar Series] is very nerve-wracking,” Calderón told The Crow’s Nest. “There are a lot of big horses here and it is only my rookie season, so I’m just trying to learn as much as I can and enjoy the experience.”
Racing fans and enthusiasts also seemed to enjoy the event, as thousands flooded into the Grand Prix throughout the weekend to watch the wide range of races and enjoy various festivities. The IndyCar Series, being the globally diverse sport that is, attracted people from all across the world to St. Petersburg, including a lively group of afro-wearing Swedes.
In the NTT IndyCar Series finale on Sunday, Australian driver Scott McLaughlin placed first, Spanish driver Alex Palou placed second and fellow Australian driver Will Power placed third. McLaughlin edged out Palou by 0.509 seconds for the crown.
After being a widely considered success this year, it’s safe to say that racers and fans will be looking forward to the return of the Firestone Grand Prix in 2023.
