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St. Petersburg Speed Circuit

An immersive exploration of the iconic street race, detailing its history, winners, track layouts, and records in the world of motorsports.

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The St. Petersburg Circuit

Location & Overview

The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is a prominent IndyCar Series event held annually in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is renowned for its challenging temporary street circuit that winds through the city's downtown area and utilizes a portion of Albert Whitted Airport's runways.

Event Significance

Since 2009, the race has frequently served as the season opener for the IndyCar Series, setting the tone for the championship. Its unique blend of urban street racing and airport runway sections provides a distinct challenge for drivers and teams.

Circuit Specifications

The current configuration of the circuit measures 2.897 km (1.808 miles) with 14 turns. It is classified as an FIA Grade Two circuit, indicating a high standard of safety and technical requirements.

A Rich Racing History

Early Beginnings (1985-1990)

The event's roots trace back to 1985 with the SCCA Trans-Am Series, which raced on a waterfront circuit. This era saw notable drivers and unfortunately, a tragic accident in 1987. The series eventually went on hiatus due to local noise complaints.

Revivals and Series Changes

The race was revived in the mid-1990s around Tropicana Field, and later, in 2003, it returned to a modified waterfront course for the CART Championship Series. By 2005, it transitioned to the IndyCar Series, marking a significant shift in its identity.

Modern Era and Sponsorship

The event has seen consistent growth and has been a staple of the IndyCar calendar. Since 2014, Firestone has served as the title sponsor, underscoring its commitment to the sport and this particular race.

Champions of St. Petersburg

Dominant Drivers and Teams

Hรฉlio Castroneves holds the record for most wins by a driver with three victories. Team Penske has been the most successful team, securing eleven wins, highlighting their consistent performance on this challenging circuit.

The table below details the winners across different series and years:

Season Driver Team Chassis Engine
2003Paul TracyForsythe RacingLola B02/00Fordโ€“Cosworth XFE
2005Dan WheldonAndretti Green RacingDallaraHonda
2006Hรฉlio CastronevesTeam PenskeDallaraHonda
2007Hรฉlio CastronevesTeam PenskeDallaraHonda
2008Graham RahalNewman/Haas/Lanigan RacingDallaraHonda
2009Ryan BriscoeTeam PenskeDallaraHonda
2010Will PowerTeam PenskeDallaraHonda
2011Dario FranchittiChip Ganassi RacingDallaraHonda
2012Hรฉlio CastronevesTeam PenskeDallara DW12Chevrolet
2013James HinchcliffeAndretti AutosportDallara DW12Chevrolet
2014Will PowerTeam PenskeDallara DW12Chevrolet
2015Juan Pablo MontoyaTeam PenskeDallara DW12Chevrolet
2016Juan Pablo MontoyaTeam PenskeDallara DW12Chevrolet
2017Sรฉbastien BourdaisDale Coyne RacingDallara DW12Honda
2018Sรฉbastien BourdaisDale Coyne RacingDallara DW12Honda
2019Josef NewgardenTeam PenskeDallara DW12Chevrolet
2020Josef NewgardenTeam PenskeDallara DW12Chevrolet
2021Colton HertaAndretti AutosportDallara DW12Honda
2022Scott McLaughlinTeam PenskeDallara DW12Chevrolet
2023Marcus EricssonChip Ganassi RacingDallara DW12Honda
2024Pato O'WardArrow McLarenDallara DW12Chevrolet
2025รlex PalouChip Ganassi RacingDallara DW12Honda

Evolving Track Designs

Historical Configurations

The St. Petersburg circuit has undergone several modifications since its inception. Early iterations in the late 1980s utilized a different bayfront layout. Later, a course around Tropicana Field was used before returning to a refined bayfront configuration.

The circuit's evolution includes:

  • 1985 Bayfront Course: Extended to the pier, with a turnaround near Bayfront Arena.
  • 1996-2000 Tropicana Field Course: Located west of the waterfront, utilizing stadium parking lot roads.
  • 2003-Present Bayfront Course: A revised layout incorporating airport runways, permanent pit facilities, and sections near Al Lang Stadium. This configuration is known for its tight turns and fast straights.

Airport Integration

A distinctive feature of the modern circuit is its integration with Albert Whitted Airport. The use of airport runways provides long straights, contrasting with the tighter, more technical sections through the downtown streets, demanding adaptability from drivers.

Setting the Pace: Lap Records

Fastest Laps

The pursuit of speed is constant in motorsports. Here are some of the fastest official lap records set at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg across various categories.

Lap records showcase the peak performance achieved on the circuit:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Event
IndyCar1:00.6795Josef NewgardenDallara DW122024 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
CART1:01.825Sรฉbastien BourdaisLola B02/002003 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
LMP21:04.340Ryan BriscoePorsche RS Spyder Evo2007 Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg
LMP11:04.725Allan McNishAudi R10 TDI2007 Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg
Indy NXT1:04.7732Dennis HaugerDallara IL-152025 Indy NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Indy Pro 20001:08.1141Sting Ray RobbTatuus PM-182020 Indy Pro 2000 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
GT11:09.770Oliver GavinChevrolet Corvette C6.R2008 Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg
LMP31:10.872Jagger JonesDuqueine D-082024 St. Petersburg IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge round
US F20001:11.8416Jack JeffersTatuus USF-222025 Foundation Building Materials Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
GT21:12.699Tomรกลก EngeFerrari F430 GTC2007 Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg
GT31:13.642Justin WetherillFerrari 488 GT3 Evo 20202022 St. Petersburg GT America round
Barber Pro1:13.930Dan Di LeoReynard 98E2003 St. Petersburg Barber Pro round
Trans-Am1:14.634Scott PruettJaguar XKR2003 St. Petersburg Trans-Am round
Porsche Carrera Cup1:15.016Jeff KingsleyPorsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup2020 St. Petersburg Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA round
GT41:17.008Jesse LazareMcLaren Artura GT42024 St. Petersburg IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge round
SRO GT21:18.881C.J. MosesAudi R8 LMS GT22022 St. Petersburg GT America round
GTS1:21.777Peter CunninghamAcura TSX2012 St. Petersburg Pirelli World Challenge round
Mazda MX-5 Cup1:24.259Jeremy FletcherMazda MX-5 (ND)2025 St. Petersburg Mazda MX-5 Cup round
TC1:25.101Tristan HebertVolkswagen GLI2012 St. Petersburg Pirelli World Challenge round

Race Highlights

IndyCar Series Narratives

The IndyCar era has been marked by close finishes, dramatic restarts, and significant championship battles. Notable moments include Hรฉlio Castroneves' dominant wins, Graham Rahal's record-breaking rookie victory in 2008, and the intense championship showdowns that have concluded seasons here.

Key IndyCar race moments:

  • 2005: Andretti Green Racing's dominant 1-2-3-4 finish, with Dan Wheldon taking the win.
  • 2007: Hรฉlio Castroneves' near-perfect drive, holding off Scott Dixon by a mere 0.6 seconds.
  • 2012: Castroneves' victory marked Chevrolet's return to winning form and featured his iconic "Spider-Man" celebration on the Dan Wheldon Way fence.
  • 2020: A championship-deciding race where Josef Newgarden's win was later controversially overturned due to a push-to-pass violation, awarding the victory to Pato O'Ward.
  • 2022: Scott McLaughlin's maiden IndyCar victory, achieved through a strategic fuel-saving run.

Support Series Action

The Grand Prix weekend also features racing from various feeder series, providing a comprehensive motorsport spectacle. These include the Indy Lights (now Indy NXT), USF Pro 2000, and historically, the SCCA Trans-Am series, showcasing emerging talent.

Notable support series winners and moments:

  • Indy Lights/NXT: Marco Andretti (2005), Josef Newgarden (2011), Rinus VeeKay (2018), Colton Herta (2021), Dennis Hauger (2025).
  • SCCA Trans-Am: Willy T. Ribbs (1985), Walter Rรถhrl (1988), Tommy Kendall (1997).
  • Stadium Super Trucks: Robby Gordon and Sheldon Creed have multiple wins, showcasing the series' unique off-road-style racing.

Feeder Series Victors

Pathway to the Top

The St. Petersburg circuit has been a proving ground for many drivers progressing through the motorsport ladder. The Indy Lights (now Indy NXT) series, in particular, has seen future IndyCar stars claim victories here.

Indy Lights/NXT Winners:

  • Marco Andretti (2005)
  • Raphael Matos (2006, 2008)
  • Alex Lloyd (2007)
  • Richard Antinucci (2008)
  • Junior Strous (2009)
  • Jean Karl Vernay (2010)
  • Josef Newgarden (2011)
  • Tristan Vautier (2012)
  • Jack Hawksworth (2013)
  • Zach Veach (2014)
  • Ed Jones (2015)
  • Felix Serralles, Felix Rosenqvist (2016)
  • Aaron Telitz, Colton Herta (2017)
  • Patricio O'Ward, Santiago Urrutia (2018)
  • Zachary Claman, Rinus VeeKay (2019)
  • Kyle Kirkwood, David Malukas (2021)
  • Matthew Brabham (2022)
  • Danial Frost (2023)
  • Nolan Siegel (2024)
  • Dennis Hauger (2025)

Other Series

The event has also hosted other significant racing categories, including:

  • SCCA Trans-Am: A historic series with winners like Willy T. Ribbs and Walter Rรถhrl.
  • Stadium Super Trucks: Known for its high-flying, aggressive action, with multiple wins for drivers like Robby Gordon and Sheldon Creed.
  • American Le Mans Series (ALMS): Featured top-tier sports car racing, with overall wins by Audi Sport North America and Highcroft Racing.
  • USF2000 / Pro Mazda / Indy Pro 2000: These crucial junior formula series have seen numerous future stars compete and win on the St. Petersburg circuit.

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Wikipedia page

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Information Accuracy

This content has been generated by an AI based on publicly available data. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and completeness, information may be subject to change or may not reflect the absolute latest developments. Always consult official sources for the most current details.

No Professional Advice: The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice in any field, including motorsports, engineering, or event management. Always seek advice from qualified professionals for specific needs.

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