The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is positioned to remain a cornerstone event on the NTT IndyCar Series schedule through at least 2024 in the wake of the St. Petersburg City Council unanimously approving a four-year extension to the existing agreement with the promoter, Green Savoree St. Petersburg.
This spring break racing tradition has been the season-opening event on INDYCAR’s annual calendar for the past nine years of its 15-year history.
“The Firestone Grand Prix has a home in the Sunshine City,” St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman said. “I am so pleased to have this cornerstone event of the NTT IndyCar Series dedicated to St. Petersburg for the next five years. I want to thank Kim Green and Kevin Savoree for their partnership, and for their dedication to St. Pete.”
Set for its traditional position on the calendar during the second weekend of March, the approved dates for the next five Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg events are:
March 12-15, 2020
March 11-14, 2021
March 10-13, 2022
March 9-12, 2023
March 7-10, 2024
“We are thrilled that the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will continue on the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront and Albert Whitted Airport,” said Kim Green, chairman and CEO of Green Savoree St. Petersburg. “The success and continued growth of the event is only possible with the great partnership we’ve enjoyed with the City of St. Petersburg, Mayor Kriseman and his tremendous team, and this overwhelming support from City Council. Personally, I’m proud to call St. Petersburg home and raise my family in this city.”
The event has also had a positive impact on the local community through fundraising efforts for both Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and the Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg. Since 2016, through the Modern Business Associates 5K run on the track, over $200,000 has been raised for the Police Athletic League. The city’s “Embrace the Race” campaign has worked with local businesses to create a great experience for visitors as well as expand the economic impact that the race has each year.
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is run on a 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary waterfront circuit that includes a combination of adjacent downtown streets circling Pioneer Park, the Mahaffey Theater, the Salvador Dali Museum and extending onto the runways of Albert Whitted Airport, which overlook the Tampa Bay and the picturesque St. Petersburg harbor and marina.
Josef Newgarden of Team Penske won this year's Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.