Round 1: Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, FL. March 8 - 10.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Round 1: Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, FL March 8 - 10

The off season is almost over, with Practice 1 for the 2024 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg getting underway this Friday, at 2:45 PM ET.

This year will be the 21st running of the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the current course and the 20th as an IndyCar race. St. Petersburg has traditionally been the season opener, with the exception of 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year's race had 27 entries.

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History
The event was first held as part of the SCCA Trans-Am Series, on the downtown waterfront circuit, from 1985-1990 but when local residents and businesses complained about the noise it was cancelled. The race returned briefly from 1996-1997 on a new course around Tropicana Field.

After a second hiatus, the event returned in 2003 but as a Champ Car race, using a modified layout of the original 1985–1990 waterfront circuit. In 2004, it was cancelled due to a dispute between the promoters but returned in 2005, this time as part of the IRL IndyCar Series, making it the first non-oval race for the Indy Racing League and becoming a perennial event on the race calendar.

In 2020 and 2021, both seasons were disrupted by the Covid pandemic with the 2020 race initially cancelled, though it was eventually reinstated as the season finale. In 2021, St. Petersburg swapped places with Barber Motorsports Park, which then became the season opener. However in 2022, St. Petersburg returned as the season opener.

In 2022, Firestone debuted its green-banded race tires, with sidewalls made from sustainable Guayule rubber, at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix in Nashville. Last year they were used at all 5 street races starting at St. Petersburg. This season the green tyres will again be used on all street races.

Some trivia:
The driver with most wins: 3, Hélio Castroneves, 2006, 2007, 2012.
The team with most wins: 12, Team Penske, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022.

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Track layout:


Length: 1.8 Miles (2.9 Km)
Turns: 14

Lap record:
Will Power, Feb 26 2022.
59.30, 109.104 Mph (175.586 Km/h).
Team Penske,
Dallara IR18-Chevrolet Indy V6.
ITT IndyCar Series.

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Last year's race:
https://www.indycar.com/news/2023/03...cs-stpete-race

Pole:
Romain Grosjean,
Andretti Autosport,
Dallara IR18-Honda HI23TT V-6

Winner:
Marcus Ericsson,
Chip Ganassi Racing,
Dallara IR18-Honda HI23TT V-6

Laps 100
Distance 180 Miles (289.681 Km)
Race Time 2:05:30.7907
Average Speed 96.899 Mph, (155.944 Km/h)

Fastest lap: Alex Palou - Chip Ganassi Racing.
Lap 10, 60.987 sec.
105.348 Mph (169.541 Km/h)

Caution periods: 5
Laps: 26

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Practice and Qualifications

Practice 1
Friday, Mar 8. 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM ET

Practice 2
Saturday, Mar 9. 9:35 AM - 10:35 AM ET

Qualifications
Round 1, Group 1
Saturday, Mar 9. 2:00 PM - 2:10 PM ET

Round 1, Group 2
Saturday, Mar 9
2:25 PM - 2:35 PM ET

Round 2
Saturday, Mar 9
2:50 PM - 3:00 PM ET

Firestone Fast 6
Saturday, Mar 9
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM ET

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Race Broadcast
Sunday, March 10.
NBC: 12:00 PM ET, 4:00 PM UTC.
Sky Sports F1: 4:00 PM GMT.