Pictured Above: Josef Newgarden (middle) finished first in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Scott Dixon (right) won the IndyCar championship with a third place finish. Pato O’Ward came in second place.
Courtesy of Mark Parker
By Mark Parker
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and USF St. Petersburg truly are neighbors. The main gate is a block behind Residence Hall One. The media gate was a short distance from The Tavern. We lend them our parking garage.
This race does not just showcase our beautiful waterfront city, but it also showcases our beautiful waterfront campus.
Oct. 23, the first day of the race, was just practice rounds. I could hear the cars from my house that morning, which is about four miles from the race.
To put it in perspective, a jet taking off is about 180 decibels. Being near an Indy car is about 140 decibels. That same jet idling? About 140 decibels. Then keep in mind you have 24 cars in a race, and you get an idea of the wall of sound steadily approaching.
Even after three days with no earplugs, that sound never failed to get my adrenaline pumping.
Burnt rubber and exhaust fumes are the first smells that hit you. In between the grandstands and viewing areas, the sweet smells of carnival food are delightful. Normally there would also be celebrity athletes, live entertainment and interactive events in these areas, but unfortunately, this was not a normal year.
What is normally the kickoff for the IndyCar season became St. Petersburg’s first big COVID-19 cancellation. What is dubbed “the world’s fastest spring break party” due to its festive atmosphere and location on the water, was postponed indefinitely at the last minute.
When I say last minute, I mean it was canceled on the first day of the three day event.
Then, seven months later, IndyCar surprisingly announced they would be coming back. What would normally mark the start of the season would now be its finale. Now scheduled for Oct. 23-25, the “world’s fastest spring break party” had become the world’s fastest fall festival.
Veteran driver Charlie Kimball told Trackside Online that “St. Pete usually feels a bit like the first day of school, but this year it’s going to be where IndyCar crowns a champion on the last day of school.”
The majority-waterfront track itself circled 1.8 miles around downtown with St. Petersburg’s skyline as a gorgeous backdrop. Part of the track extends to one of Albert Whitted Airport’s runways. I watched in astonishment as a private plane and helicopters landed during practice runs.
The days were hot and humid for late October, with temperatures in the mid to high 80s. Facing east and being directly in the sunlight, in addition to all the asphalt, concrete and people, only added to this. But it was not unbearable. I routinely thought about the drivers in full uniform and how much stamina would be required to race with an open cockpit like this for hours on end.
Speaking of open cockpits, when watching in front of the Mahaffey, just a few feet away from where the racers would pass mere inches from the concrete barrier, it seemed as if you were making eye contact with the racers. I thought about waving more than once and wondering if I could get someone to wave back. Although, I am sure the last thing you want to do while going 170 mph with no room for error is to take a hand off the steering wheel.
Pit lane was expansive, full of semi-trailers, RV’s and large groups of crewmen. I spent the first two days here dodging hand trucks full of tires and personnel in golf carts, but everyone welcomed me. However, on Sunday for the finale, the Indy chiefs instructed me that my free reign was up.
The city announced that it would restrict access to 20,000 people, a huge reduction for the normal 200,000 visitors it advertises.
During the first two days, it seemed like that was generally plausible, although those were mainly practice and qualifying days. By the third day the atmosphere and excitement jumped up a few notches and it seemed like there were 20,000 people every few blocks.
“It really all comes down to this weekend,” returning winner Josef Newgarden said to Trackside Online. “We either win the championship or don’t.”
Newgarden and driver Scott Dixon had been battling for the top spot in the IndyCar Series and since this race was now the finale, winning it for these two would cement their championship. Their battle lived up to the hype.
Courtesy of Mark Parker
It was 100 laps and 180 miles of exhilaration.
Newgarden and his No. 1 team Penske Chevrolet were near the front of the pack for most of the day, watching as other favorites succumbed to crashes. First, it was his teammate and pole sitter Will Powers, then Alexander Rossi, who took the lead from Powers. Rossi led 61 of the first 69 laps before crashing. Newgarden managed to avoid the six different cautions that covered 26 laps.
After a restart on lap 80, Newgarden surged from third to first and never looked back. Finishing with a 4.1-second win over Pato O’Ward, Newgarden became the third driver in a row to win more than once at the St. Pete Grand Prix.
Courtesy of Mark Parker
It still would not be enough to claim the championship, however. Dixon had built up a massive point lead and only needed to finish ninth or better to finish as champion. He raced aggressively to finish third. This gave him his sixth championship, just one behind the record of seven held by legendary A.J. Foyt.
It was all smiles, champagne baths, confetti and relief in the winner’s circle. Relief that they were able to come back to St. Petersburg, relief that they were able to have a season. The first thing that all three drivers did after the obligatory photos? Hug and kiss their loved ones.
If this sounds like something you would like to experience, I have good news. The race is back to being the world’s fastest spring break party in just 133 days, as it returns to the IndyCar opener in March.
