The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg returns this weekend as the IndyCar Series’ regular season opener. The three-day event begins Friday and concludes with Sunday’s 100-lap IndyCar race (12:30 p.m., NBC)
Here’s all you should know about this year’s Grand Prix:
Why is this year special?
This is the Grand Prix’s 20th consecutive running. This makes it the second-longest uninterrupted race on the IndyCar series, trailing only the Indianapolis 500. It’s also the 12th time the Grand Prix has started the IndyCar season.
What is the IndyCar Grand Prix of St. Petersburg schedule?
Friday afternoon, IndyCar will hold an autograph session from 12:30 to 1:30, followed by its first practice from 2:45 to 4 p.m.
On Saturday, IndyCar practices for an hour beginning at 9:35 a.m., followed by qualifying from 2-3:30 p.m. The series begins on Sunday morning at 9:10-9:40 a.m., with the green flag flying at 12:30.
What else is happening on the racetrack?
There are seven other races. Five are from IndyCar feeder series, including a Sunday event with INDY NXT, which is the equivalent of Triple-A baseball. There is also a doubleheader from the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, which makes its Grand Prix debut.
How do you watch IndyCar?
Sunday’s main event will be broadcast on NBC. Peacock will telecast IndyCar practice and qualifying sessions, as well as the INDY NXT event.
Who is driving in the Grand Prix?
Scott Dixon, the six-time series winner, will be in the field, still hunting for his first win here. Marcus Ericsson, the defending race winner, returns, as do five other Grand Prix winners: Scott McLaughlin, Josef Newgarden, Will Power, Graham Rahal, and Colton Herta (a former Belleair resident who now lives in Nashville).
In the feeder series, Gulfport’s Nikita Johnson was born and raised in Pinellas County. He became the event’s youngest victor last year at the age of 14 and has since advanced to the USF Pro Championships series. Nolan Allaer moved to Fish Hawk when he was three years old, then to Michigan before his sophomore year in high school. He’s an INDY NXT newcomer.
What else is happening?
Two Thursday games remain. They are the annual 5K run on the course (5:30 p.m.) and a free party in the park at North Straub Park (5-7:30 p.m.).
A Friday addition is an evening celebration celebrating the event’s 20th anniversary. At least eleven former race winners are expected to attend the benefit at the Mahaffey Theater, as well as all four mayors who have helped organize the event. The public can purchase a limited number of $250 tickets.
Not really. The 14-turn, 1.8-mile circuit begins and ends on the Albert Whitted Airport runway, passing by the Dali Museum and marina. However, because this is a temporary circuit on city streets, the bumps and marks never look the same. “We call it character,” Dixon added, “and I love character.”
Are there any major changes to IndyCar in 2024?
The series is adjusting the practice format to try to spread out the action. Everyone can drive for the first 20 minutes. The field is then divided into two sections, with 10-minute intervals alternated. IndyCar has been working on hybrid technology, which was supposed to debut this weekend but has been pushed back until after the Indy 500.
