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IndyCar Series | |
---|---|
Location | St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S. 27°45′59″N 82°37′45″W / 27.76639°N 82.62917°W |
Corporate sponsor | Firestone |
First race | 1985 |
First ICS race | 2005 |
Distance | 1.800 mi (2.897 km) |
Laps | 100 |
Duration | 180.00 mi (289.68 km) |
Previous names | St. Petersburg Grand Prix (1985–1990) Kash n' Karry Florida Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (1996–1997) Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (2005–2013) Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (2014–present) |
Most wins (driver) | Hélio Castroneves (3) |
Most wins (team) | Team Penske (11) |
Most wins (manufacturer) | Chassis: Dallara (15) Engine: Honda (9) |
Circuit information | |
Surface | Asphalt/Concrete |
Length | 2.910 km (1.808 mi) |
Turns | 14 |
Lap record | 1:00.6795 ( Josef Newgarden, Dallara DW12, 2024, IndyCar) |
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is an IndyCar Series race held in St. Petersburg, Florida. In most years since 2009, the race has served as the season opener (or at minimum, the first race held on U.S. soil).[1] The race is held annually in the spring, with the exception of 2020, when it was postponed until October due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The race takes place on a temporary course, utilizing downtown streets, and one runway of Albert Whitted Airport. The event dates back to 1985, with IndyCars first competing in 2003.
The inaugural 1985 event was organized by William T. McVey, president of the McBri Corporation in Tampa and a member of IMSA and the SCCA.[2] The SCCA Trans-Am Series held a race on a St. Petersburg downtown waterfront circuit from 1985 to 1990. Can-Am also competed in 1985. Local residents and businesses complained about noise, and the event was eventually put on hiatus.[3] Driver Jim Fitzgerald was killed in a crash during the 1987 race.[4][5]
From 1996 to 1997, the St. Petersburg race was revived on a different course around Tropicana Field (about one mile west of the original waterfront course). Along with the Trans-Am Series, support races included U.S. FF2000, World Challenge, Pro SRF and Barber Dodge. The event subsequently went again on hiatus for several years.[3]
In 2003, the event was revived again for the CART Championship Series. A new, modified version of the original 1985 waterfront circuit was created. For 2004, the event was cancelled due to a dispute between the promoters, furthermore, the bankruptcy and liquidation of the CART series into the new Champ Car World Series saw a shakeup of the calendar. When the race returned in 2005, it switched to the IndyCar Series, marking the first non-oval event for the Indy Racing League. In 2007, the race weekend was expanded to include an American Le Mans Series event.
Andretti Green Promotions would later take over promotion of the event.[6] Starting in 2014, Firestone took over as title sponsor.[7]
Season | Date | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine/Aero Kit | Tires | Race Distance | Race Time | Average Speed (mph) |
Report | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laps | Miles (km) | |||||||||||
CART Championship Series history | ||||||||||||
2003 | February 23 | Paul Tracy | Forsythe Racing | Lola B02/00 | Ford–Cosworth XFE | Bridgestone | 105 | 189.630 (305.130) | 2:04:28 | 91.401 | Report | |
2004 | Not held | |||||||||||
IndyCar Series history | ||||||||||||
2005 | April 3 | Dan Wheldon | Andretti Green Racing | Dallara | Honda | Firestone | 100 | 180 (289.681) | 2:09:54 | 83.14 | Report | |
2006 | April 2 | Hélio Castroneves | Team Penske | Dallara | Honda | Firestone | 100 | 180 (289.681) | 1:56:58 | 92.34 | Report | |
2007 | April 1 | Hélio Castroneves (2) | Team Penske (2) | Dallara | Honda | Firestone | 100 | 180 (289.681) | 2:01:07 | 89.166 | Report | |
2008 | April 6 | Graham Rahal | Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing | Dallara | Honda | Firestone | 83* | 149.4 (240.435) | 2:00:44 | 74.251 | Report | |
2009 | April 5 | Ryan Briscoe | Team Penske (3) | Dallara | Honda | Firestone | 100 | 180 (289.681) | 2:12:27 | 81.542 | Report | |
2010 | March 29* | Will Power | Team Penske (4) | Dallara | Honda | Firestone | 100 | 180 (289.681) | 2:07:06 | 84.975 | Report | |
2011 | March 27 | Dario Franchitti | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dallara | Honda | Firestone | 100 | 180 (289.681) | 2:01:00 | 89.26 | Report | |
2012 | March 25 | Hélio Castroneves (3) | Team Penske (5) | Dallara DW12 | Chevrolet/UAK-12 | Firestone | 100 | 180 (289.681) | 1:59:51 | 90.113 | Report | |
2013 | March 24 | James Hinchcliffe | Andretti Autosport (2) | Dallara DW12 | Chevrolet/UAK-12 | Firestone | 110 | 198 (318.65) | 2:22:13 | 83.539 | Report | |
2014 | March 30 | Will Power (2) | Team Penske (6) | Dallara DW12 | Chevrolet/UAK-12 | Firestone | 110 | 198 (318.65) | 2:06:58 | 93.572 | Report | |
2015 | March 29 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Team Penske (7) | Dallara DW12 | Chevrolet/CAK-15 | Firestone | 110 | 198 (318.65) | 2:16:58 | 86.735 | Report | |
2016 | March 13 | Juan Pablo Montoya (2) | Team Penske (8) | Dallara DW12 | Chevrolet/CAK-16 (5) | Firestone | 110 | 198 (318.65) | 2:13:28 | 89.006 | Report | |
2017 | March 12 | Sébastien Bourdais | Dale Coyne Racing | Dallara DW12 | Honda/HAK-16 | Firestone | 110 | 198 (318.65) | 2:04:32 | 95.391 | Report | |
2018 | March 11 | Sébastien Bourdais (2) | Dale Coyne Racing (2) | Dallara DW12 | Honda/UAK-18 (9) | Firestone | 110 | 198 (318.65) | 2:17:48 | 86.207 | Report | |
2019 | March 10 | Josef Newgarden | Team Penske (9) | Dallara DW12 | Chevrolet/UAK-18 (6) | Firestone | 110 | 198 (318.65) | 2:04:18 | 95.572 | Report | |
2020 | October 25 | Josef Newgarden (2) | Team Penske (10) | Dallara DW12 | Chevrolet/UAK-18 (7) | Firestone | 100 | 180 (289.681) | 2:06:12 | 85.872 | Report | |
2021 | April 25 | Colton Herta | Andretti Autosport (3) | Dallara DW12 | Honda/UAK-18 (10) | Firestone | 100 | 180 (289.681) | 1:51:51 | 96.552 | Report | |
2022 | February 27 | Scott McLaughlin | Team Penske (11) | Dallara DW12 | Chevrolet/UAK-18 (8) | Firestone | 100 | 180 (289.681) | 1:51:27 | 96.899 | Report | |
2023 | March 5 | Marcus Ericsson | Chip Ganassi Racing (2) | Dallara DW12 | Honda/UAK-18 (11) | Firestone | 100 | 180 (289.681) | 2:05:30 | 86.047 | Report | |
2024 | March 10 | Pato O'Ward | Arrow McLaren (1) | Dallara DW12 | Chevrolet/UAK-18 (9) | Firestone | 100 | 180 (289.681) | 1:51:29 | 96.867 | Report |
Season | Date | Winning Driver | Atlantic Championship Series | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1985 | November 3 | Riley Hopkins | ||||
1986 | November 16 | Scott Goodyear | ||||
1987 | November 7 | Johnny O'Connell | ||||
1988 | October 23 | Jocko Cunningham | ||||
1989 | October 29 | Jocko Cunningham | ||||
1990 | November 4 | Brian Till | ||||
Source: [9] |
Overall winner in bold.
Season | LMP1 Winning Team | LMP2 Winning Team | GT1 Winning Team | GT2 Winning Team | Report |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
LMP1 Winning Drivers | LMP2 Winning Drivers | GT1 Winning Drivers | GT2 Winning Drivers | ||
2007 | #1 Audi Sport North America | #6 Penske Racing | #4 Corvette Racing | #62 Risi Competizione | report |
Rinaldo Capello Allan McNish |
Sascha Maassen Ryan Briscoe |
Oliver Gavin Olivier Beretta |
Mika Salo Jaime Melo | ||
2008 | #2 Audi Sport North America | #7 Penske Racing | #4 Corvette Racing | #71 Tafel Racing | report |
Marco Werner Lucas Luhr |
Timo Bernhard Romain Dumas |
Olivier Beretta Oliver Gavin |
Dominik Farnbacher Dirk Müller | ||
2009 | #9 Patrón Highcroft Racing | #15 Lowe's Fernández Racing | No entry | #45 Flying Lizard Motorsports | report |
David Brabham Scott Sharp |
Adrian Fernández Luis Díaz |
No entry | Patrick Long Jörg Bergmeister |
Year | Date | Driver | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | March 29 | Robby Gordon | [10] |
March 30 | P. J. Jones | ||
2015 | March 28 | Sheldon Creed | [11] |
March 29 | Burt Jenner | ||
2016 | March 12 | Sheldon Creed | [12] |
March 13 | Keegan Kincaid | ||
2017 | March 11 | Robby Gordon | [13] |
March 12 | Matthew Brabham | [14] | |
2021 | April 24 | Sheldon Creed | [15] |
April 25 | Sheldon Creed | [16] |
Season | Date | Driver | Team | Car | Race Distance | Race Time | Average Speed | Report | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laps | Miles (km) | ||||||||
1985 | November 3 | Willy T. Ribbs | Roush Racing | Mercury Capri | 50 | 100 (160.934) | 01:15:05 | 79.910 mph (128.603 km/h) | Report |
1986 | November 15 | Pete Halsmer | Roush Racing | Mercury Merkur XR4Ti | 50 | 100 (160.934) | 01:15:09 | 79.838 mph (128.487 km/h) | Report |
1987 | November 15 | Pete Halsmer | Roush Racing | Mercury Merkur XR4Ti | 50 | 100 (160.934) | 02:06:24 | 47.462 mph (76.383 km/h) | Report |
1988 | October 23 | Walter Röhrl | Audi of America | Audi 200 Quattro | 63 | 125.999 (202.777) | 01:38:09 | 77.0207 mph (123.9528 km/h) | Report |
1989 | October 29 | Irv Hoerr | Oldsmobile Cutlass | 63 | 125.999 (202.777) | 01:42:55 | 73.459 mph (118.221 km/h) | Report | |
1990 | November 4 | Chris Kneifel | Chevrolet Beretta | 63 | 125.999 (202.777) | 01:47:11 | 70.535 mph (113.515 km/h) | Report | |
1991–1995, Not held | |||||||||
1996 | February 25 | Ron Fellows | Chevrolet Camaro | 63 | 106.470 (171.346) | 01:18:13 | 70.535 mph (113.515 km/h) | Report[permanent dead link] | |
1997 | February 25 | Tommy Kendall | Ford Mustang | 60 | 101.400 (163.187) | 01:14:44 | 81.405 mph (131.009 km/h) | Report | |
1998–2002, Not held | |||||||||
2003 | February 23 | Scott Pruett | Jaguar XKR | 55 | 99.330 (159.856) | 01:16:06 | 81.405 mph (131.009 km/h) | Report |
The Streets of St. Petersburg course is a street circuit connecting existing roads with one of the two runways of Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg, Florida. It also dips into the parking lot at Al Lang Stadium. St. Petersburg is classified as an FIA Grade Two circuit.[17]
The original 1985 Trans-Am course utilized a similar layout to the course used today. For the first year the track actually ran out to the pier, made a 180 degree turn and returned. At the end of Bayshore Drive, rather than diverting off to the airport runways, the course circled around 5th Avenue Southeast around Bayfront Arena, and the start/finish line was located just south of the paddock (the parking lot of Bayfront Arena). In addition, the old course traveled further up Beach Drive Northeast, all the way to 5th Avenue Northeast. 5th Ave. NE was a very narrow segment. The course came south down Bayshore Drive Northeast, and passed by The Pier.
The second course at Tropicana Field was located about a mile west of the waterfront location. The circuit used the roads around the perimeter of the parking lot of the stadium.
When the course was reconfigured, the northbound segment turned at Central Avenue instead, and did not go as far as The Pier. The pits and main straight were moved to the airport, and a purpose-built paddock area was paved next to the runway. The Albert Whitted Park was reconfigured/relocated, and the entire course layout was repaved.
The pits and paddock areas, as well as link from Dan Wheldon Way to the airport runway (turns 11, 12, and 13) were constructed specifically for the circuit in 2003, and are considered permanent features of the otherwise temporary circuit.
After the crash at the 2011 Izod IndyCar World Championship that killed Snell Isle resident Dan Wheldon, who won the 2005 race and two Indianapolis 500 titles, the straight following Turn 10 (the turn from Bayshore Drive to Albert Whitted Park) was renamed "Dan Wheldon Way" in his memory. The sign and commemorative plaque was unveiled by St. Petersburg mayor Bill Foster on March 6, 2012. A permanent Dan Wheldon Memorial is located next to the Dali Museum on the opposite side of Turn 10, where race winners have their names placed on the memorial.[18]
As of March 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg are listed as:
Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Current Grand Prix Circuit: 2.897 km (2003–present)[19] | ||||
IndyCar | 1:00.6795 | Josef Newgarden | Dallara DW12 | 2024 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg |
CART | 1:01.825 | Sébastien Bourdais | Lola B02/00 | 2003 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg |
LMP2 | 1:04.340[20] | Ryan Briscoe | Porsche RS Spyder Evo | 2007 Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg |
LMP1 | 1:04.725[20] | Allan McNish | Audi R10 TDI | 2007 Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg |
Indy Lights | 1:04.9562[21] | Kyle Kirkwood | Dallara IL-15 | 2021 Indy Lights Grand Prix of St. Petersburg |
Indy Pro 2000 | 1:08.1141[22] | Sting Ray Robb | Tatuus PM-18 | 2020 Indy Pro 2000 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg |
GT1 | 1:09.770[23] | Oliver Gavin | Chevrolet Corvette C6.R | 2008 Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg |
LMP3 | 1:10.872[24] | Jagger Jones | Duqueine D-08 | 2024 St. Petersburg IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge round |
US F2000 | 1:12.2279[25] | Kiko Porto | Tatuus USF-17 | 2020 Cooper Tires USF2000 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg |
GT2 | 1:12.699[20] | Tomáš Enge | Ferrari F430 GTC | 2007 Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg |
GT3 | 1:13.642[26] | Justin Wetherill | Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 | 2022 St. Petersburg GT America round |
Barber Pro | 1:13.930[27] | Dan Di Leo | Reynard 98E | 2003 St. Petersburg Barber Pro round |
Trans-Am | 1:14.634[28] | Scott Pruett | Jaguar XKR | 2003 St. Petersburg Trans-Am round |
Porsche Carrera Cup | 1:15.016[29] | Jeff Kingsley | Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup | 2020 St. Petersburg Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA round |
GT4 | 1:17.008[24] | Jesse Lazare | McLaren Artura GT4 | 2024 St. Petersburg IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge round |
SRO GT2 | 1:18.881[26] | C.J. Moses | Audi R8 LMS GT2 | 2022 St. Petersburg GT America round |
GTS | 1:21.777[30] | Peter Cunningham | Acura TSX | 2012 St. Petersburg Pirelli World Challenge round |
Mazda MX-5 Cup | 1:24.344[31] | Justin Piscitell | Mazda MX-5 (ND) | 2022 St. Petersburg Mazda MX-5 Cup round |
TC | 1:25.101[30] | Tristan Hebert | Volkswagen GLI | 2012 St. Petersburg Pirelli World Challenge round |
Third Grand Prix Circuit: 2.720 km (1996–2000)[19] | ||||
Trans-Am | 1:14.800[32] | Tommy Kendall | Ford Mustang | 1997 St. Petersburg Trans-Am round |
Second Grand Prix Circuit: 3.219 km (1986–1991)[19] | ||||
Trans-Am | 1:17.440[33] | Scott Pruett | Merkur XR4Ti | 1987 St. Petersburg Trans-Am round |
Original Grand Prix Circuit: 3.219 km (1985)[19] | ||||
Can-Am | 1:23.020[34] | Peter Greenfield | Ralt RT4 | 1985 Can-Am Challenge at St. Petersburg |
Trans-Am | 1:27.836[35] | Willy T. Ribbs | Mercury Capri | 1985 St. Petersburg Trans-Am round |
Preceded by First race of season |
IndyCar Series Grand Prix of St. Petersburg |
Succeeded by Xpel 375 (Texas) |