Photo by Kendall Bulkiewicz | The Crow’s Nest
By Mahika Kukday
Ahead of practice sessions on Feb. 28, Álex Palou and his team said St. Petersburg was a track they’d struggled with and they’d like to get closer to the top.
Palou ended up at the highest spot there is on the podium at the NTT IndyCar season opener on Mar. 2 in St. Petersburg, clinching his first victory in the Sunshine City.
Leading 26 of the 100 laps, it was a bold triumph to kick off what could be Palou’s third consecutive season as IndyCar champion.
“It shows the amazing job that all the men and women did at Chip Ganassi racing during the offseason,” Palou said, crediting his 12th career win to his team.
Teammate Scott Dixon joined him on the podium after racing all 100 laps without any radio communication from his team.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever done a whole race without a radio,” Dixon said. “So that was interesting but glad we got some good points.”
Successfully undercutting Dixon by pitting one lap earlier than him, was the move that secured Palou’s victory. It was a risk, “especially on street circuits when out-laps are really tough on cold tires,” Palou said.
But he exited the pit lane ahead of Dixon and was able to build a significant gap as his tires warmed up.
Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden completed the podium after losing P2 to Dixon in a thrilling last-lap overtake that had the audience on its feet.
IndyCar brought fans from across the world to St. Petersburg
Whether it was lining victory lane to get a glimpse of the cars as they rolled out after the race or spending days sprawled out on the waterfront viewing area, IndyCar fans brought the excitement to town.
Over 160,000 fans attended the Mar. 2 race in person according to St. Pete Catalyst. Fox, which debuted a landmark broadcasting deal with IndyCar this year, reported 1.4 million viewers across its platforms, a 45% increase from last year.
The event brought people from across the U.S. and the world to St. Petersburg.
Patrick Goulbourn, 30, has loved racing since he was five years old. Him and his wife, Katy, came from their hometown in North London to St. Petersburg just for the IndyCar race.
Photo by Mahika Kukday | The Crow’s Nest
“It’s unbelievable, the weather’s brilliant, the people are really nice,” Goulbourn said, adding that the couple hoped to stop by the beaches and catch a sunset cruise during their weeklong trip.
They’ve taken trips centered around IndyCar before a habit that Goulbourn jokingly deemed, “an expensive hobby, but worthwhile.”
Although he started with watching Formula One (F1), Goulbourn said IndyCar is his favorite type of racing because it’s, “much more accessible and the people are really friendly.”
Dana Erickson and Shana Stroster also flew in from hundreds of miles away and praised the sunny weather. The two friends came from Michigan just to catch the grand prix.
“I’ve been watching IndyCar since 2005, which was the first ever St. Petersburg race,” Erickson said. She grew up around NASCAR in her hometown of Charlotte.
Photo by Mahika Kukday | The Crow’s Nest
Her IndyCar experience was extra thrilling because she won the chance to do a hot lap in an actual IndyCar through IndyCar Nation, the series’ official fan forum.
“She’s super excited and I’m super jealous,” Stroster joked.
University of Central Florida student Hannah Harper drove from Orlando every day of the race weekend to volunteer.
She practiced how to say “good luck,” to her favorite driver, Pato O’Ward, in Spanish for “way too long.” But, when her chance came as O’Ward exited the media bullpen on Feb. 28, she took it.
Photo by Mahika Kukday | The Crow’s Nest
“I’ve met a bunch of [drivers] and they’re all really sweet,” Harper said. “And they’ll stop for anybody and talk to them and sign something or take a picture, which is really nice.”
While the racing excitement has wrapped up for this year, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is here to stay until at least 2028.
