ST. PETERSBURG, FL (March 5, 2018) – Downtown St. Petersburg is open for all race fans, visitors and residents alike as the city welcomes three days of fast cars, world-class drivers and family fun on the waterfront during the 14th Annual Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, March 9 -11.
Mayor Rick Kriseman will host a flag raising ceremony Thursday, March 8 at 10 a.m. on the northwest lawn of City Hall, 175 5th Street N. 2017 race winner and St. Pete resident Sebastien Bourdais will attend, along with drivers Josef Newgarden and Helio Castroneves, this year’s honorary grand marshal of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Mayor Kriseman will present Bourdais with a special champion’s memento.
To get the Grand Prix weekend off to a speedy start, everyone is invited to embrace the race with live music, arts-and-crafts and family fun at the Fast Friday festivities in North Straub Park on Friday, March 9. The party kicks off at 6:00 p.m. with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg 5K presented by Modern Business Associates in North Straub Park. Athletes of all ages and abilities will run along a waterfront course that takes place completely on the iconic 1.8-mile, 14-turn racetrack. Advance registration is $35. Proceeds will benefit the Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg.
In addition to the race, a free Movies on the Lawn event will be held in North Straub Park, screening Cars 3. Kids can enjoy a free arts activity – a ‘build your own racecar’ crafts station. Music and the arts activity begin at 5:30 p.m., with the movie starting at dark.
As the season-opening event for the eighth consecutive year on the 2018 17-race Verizon IndyCar Series schedule, downtown St. Petersburg transforms into one of racing’s most beautiful road courses and offers spectacular trackside waterfront views for fans of all ages. The IndyCar 110-lap feature will be broadcast to a national television audience on ABC beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 11, and in total, 11 races will take the green flag during the weekend schedule.
Get Social – Stay on top of the action at the track, follow your favorite team or driver and learn what’s going on in downtown St. Petersburg using the official Grand Prix hashtag #FirestoneGP. Follow @StPeteFL for the latest updates and standings and show support by using #EmbraceTheRace. Visit stpete.org/grandprix for more information on parking and city events. For additional activities happening at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, visit gpstpete.com.