Photo by Mahika Kukday | The Crow’s Nest
By Mahika Kukday
St. Petersburg is officially racing city.
“Where else in the world can you go, where it’s going to be 70 degrees, sunny, palm trees flowing in the wind, cars going 200 miles an hour by a world-renowned theater and museum,” said Shawn Drouin, events coordinator for the City of St. Petersburg, at the flag raising kickoff event this morning. “The answer is nowhere but St. Petersburg.”
The atmosphere is electric as fans gear up for the 21st edition of the NTT INDYCAR season opener, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, on Sunday.
Four other racing series, including INDY NXT will feature open-wheel and sports car action for a total of eight races starting Friday.
And while the races are always highly anticipated in St. Petersburg, a couple new things have fans extra excited this time around.
One of those is 16-year-old race-car driver Nikita Johnson. Born and raised in Gulfport, the “hometown hero” has the enthusiastic support of the whole city as he’s set to make his debut in INDY NXT on Sunday, only one step down from the premiere NTT INDYCAR series.
“I’m very excited, it’s my hometown Grand Prix and I’ve watched it forever,” Johnson told The Crow’s Nest at the kickoff street party hosted in Gulfport on Wednesday. “It’s amazing to be in the main show now.”
Photo by Mahika Kukday | The Crow’s Nest
Johnson is fresh off a victory in the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship in New Zealand earlier this month.
Dozens came out to support the local racer at his kickoff event at O’Maddy’s Bar and Grille.
Among them was Sarah Schatzel, a St. Petersburg native and mom to two young racing enthusiasts.
“My oldest son is obsessed with [Johnson], he has his poster that he signed for him in his room and we’ve never taken it down,” Schatzel said.
She’s a regular at the St. Petersburg Grand Prix and said that her and her sons are “always the most excited to see Nikita.” The family has met Johnson multiple times and enjoyed chatting with him at O’Maddy’s.
Another development that has fans excited is the arrival of beloved Formula One (F1) commentator Will Buxton to INDYCAR, who says he’s “absolutely chomping at the bit” to get started.
For the first time, FOX will be the exclusive broadcaster of INDYCAR in North America, after the league spent 16 seasons with NBC Sports.
As the voice of the Netflix series, Drive to Survive, and one of the most recognizable faces in the F1 paddock, Buxton’s debut in the FOX sports booth is expected to significantly boost INDYCAR’s viewership.
F1 and INDYCAR are both elite open-wheel racing leagues. INDYCARs reach higher top speeds and also race on oval tracks, unlike F1 cars. There are more design differences between the two, but the main separation between these two leagues is that F1 drivers race in five continents while INDYCAR runs in North America and Canada, according to Red Bull.
Photo by Mahika Kukday | The Crow’s Nest
“My only plan is be passionate, be excited and hopefully, bring everyone along for the ride,” Buxton told The Crow’s Nest in a press conference on Feb. 25.
Buxton said that he’s received several text messages from people who will miss him in F1, but he said there’s an easy solution for that – watch INDYCAR.
“I truly believe there is enough time in the day and enough room in people’s racing hearts that you don’t have to be an ‘either/or’ fan,” he stated. “Fill your Sundays with racing. There’s enough time to watch both [F1 and INDYCAR].”
Buxton described INDYCAR as “motorsport’s best kept secret,” adding that it’s got more action, more frequent overtakes and more title contenders than F1. He’s excited to get into the booth and start “calling the action.”
He’s looking forward to joining fellow announcers and former INDYCAR racers James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell in the FOX booth.
Madison Kaelin, a graphic arts senior at USF St. Petersburg, has been an F1 fan for over three years. While she occasionally tunes in to INDYCAR, Buxton’s presence is drawing her to the American series.
“[Buxton] mentioned that a lot of F1 drivers are scared for INDYCAR because it’s so dangerous,” Kaelin said. “So, I think the way he speaks about Indy may also help its reputation among F1 fans, who seem to look down on the Indy series.”
Kaelin’s favorite part of watching races is the thrill of the high-speed action. She said that knowing what the drivers go through physically has increased her respect for the athletes and draws her to the sport even more.
For race enthusiasts like Schatzel and Kaelin, today’s Party in the Park from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. near the St. Peterburg Pier is an exciting opportunity. North Straub Park hosts this annual community event where people can mingle with drivers and take photos with real INDYCARs.
The full schedule of this weekend’s racing events is available on the Grand Prix’s website.
Stay tuned to The Crow’s Nest for all things INDYCAR in St. Petersburg.
