St. Petersburg Grand Prix Reaches Year 20

Tampa Bay is the home of some of the most amazing events year-round. From the Florida State Fair to hosting the world’s best artists, Tampa is a city where everyone can enjoy something.  

In early spring, motorsports and car lovers across the nation come together in St. Pete to celebrate the return of the NTT IndyCar Series. Tampa Bay has had the pleasure of being the inaugural season opener for 20 years now. The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg as it’s officially called is one of the most loved races during the season, alongside the famous Indy500.  

While the main events were between March 8-10, there are many activities held leading up to the race weekend. On Wednesday 6, amateur and professional drivers came together to raise money for the John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital during the ‘Karts4Kids’ karting race. Big names in the motorsports industry, such as Scott Dixon and Sébastien Bourdais, have been contributing their time and effort into helping the kids in the Tampa Bay area. This year they accumulated a sum of over 1.6 million dollars to support the patients, their families, and the renewal of the hospital’s facilities.  

The evening of Thursday 7, fans could participate in the ‘5k Run & Walk’ which took place on the track. This race coincided with the IndyCar Party in the Park, a free event that lets fan of all ages get close with the race cars and meet some of the drivers who compete in the races. IndyCar, unlike many of its fellow racing series, is very focused on providing a fun and affordable fan experience. When compared to NASCAR and Formula 1, IndyCar general admission and grandstand tickets are about 1/5 of its competitors. This is one of the biggest factors into the races increased attendance in 2024. 

Friday and Saturday consisted of more team and driver centered activities. Alongside watching the 11 IndyCar teams test various tires and strategies for the race, fans had the opportunity to watch many of the feeder categories compete. Many of these drivers in the younger categories are students in high school students from across America. Seeing them perform at such fast speeds truly puts in to perspective the mental and physical strength they obtain.  

All these events help set up for an amazing grand prix experience on Sunday. While many attendees opt to pay for the basic entrance tickets, IndyCar does provide passes into their infamous paddock. The access fans get inside is unlike that of most other motorsports series. Walking through the paddock area, you can watch as the mechanics fix issues with the car and tweak various parts so their drivers can maximize their chances of winning.  

Prior to the main race of the day, the 15-year-old driver, Nikita Johnson from the Tampa Bay region took home a win during only his sixth race in the USF Pro 2000 championship. Over the last few years, Nikita has built his name and looks to be a future star for not just IndyCar, but even the pinnacle of motorsports, Formula 1. Currently he is also competing in England in the single seater GB3 championship. 

Finally, after the lights went out for the official IndyCar races fans were greeted with a spectacle that truly did top the chaos of the 2023 St. Pete Grand Prix. The race winner Josef Newgarden held first place for a majority of the race, only losing his place after pitting for a tire change and refuel. Behind him the order all the way down to the final points positions, tenth place, was constantly reshuffling. Some of the main battles were between second place, Pato O’Ward, third place, Scott Mclaughlin, Colton Herta, and Felix Rosenqvist. Each driver has the potential to be the prospective champion for the 2024 season. 

The IndyCar Grand Prix weekend is truly unlike any other. With affordable prices for those on a budget to providing numerous opportunities for attendees to have fun and get close to the action, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is a ‘must go-to’ event for Tampa Bay residents and motorsport lovers alike.