The 2025 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will ignite the streets of downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, this weekend, marking the commencement of the NTT IndyCar Series season!
This is the 15th time the 100 lap race will serve as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season-opening event. From February 28 to March 2, fans will witness top-tier racing on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary circuit that winds through the city and includes a portion of the Albert Whitted Airport runway.
This will be the 21st race event to take place on the temporary street circuit running on Bayshore Dr. and circling Pioneer Park, the Duke Energy Center for the Arts (Mahaffey Theater), The Dali Museum, extending onto the runway at Albert Whitted Airport, and bordering Tampa Bay and picturesque St. Petersburg Harbor and Marina. The former Champ Car World Series, which merged with INDYCAR in 2008, promoted a race on the same course layout in 2003.
Event Schedule and Highlights
The festivities kicked off on Thursday, February 27, with the “INDYCAR Party in the Park” at North Straub Park from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. This free event offered fans a chance to meet drivers, enjoy live music, and participate in various activities. Concurrently, a 5K run and walk took place on the actual racecourse, starting at 5 p.m., allowing participants to experience the track firsthand.
On Friday, February 28, the track comes alive with practice sessions across multiple racing series, including the USF Pro 2000, Mazda MX-5 Cup, and USF2000. The NTT IndyCar Series drivers will have their first practice from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., broadcast live on FS1.
Saturday, March 1, features additional practice sessions and the crucial qualifying rounds. IndyCar qualifying is scheduled from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., determining the starting grid for Sunday’s main event. Fans can watch this session live on FS1.
The highlight of the weekend, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, takes place on Sunday, March 2, with the race starting at 12 p.m.
For the full schedule, check out the Grand Prix Website.
This Year’s Teams and Drivers to Watch
The 2025 season brings a mix of seasoned veterans and promising newcomers, with several teams making notable changes to their lineups:
- Team Penske: Maintains its strong trio with Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin, and Will Power returning. Team Penske has the most wins on the streets of St. Petersburg, having won 11 races in the history of the event.
- Andretti Global: Fields a consistent lineup featuring Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood, and Marcus Ericsson.
- Arrow McLaren: Welcomes Christian Lundgaard to join Pato O’Ward and Nolan Siegel, with Lundgaard taking over the No. 7 Chevrolet.
- Ed Carpenter Racing: Sees Alexander Rossi transitioning from Arrow McLaren to team up with Christian Rasmussen.
- Chip Ganassi Racing: Downsizes from five to three cars, retaining Scott Dixon, Alex Palou, and Kyffin Simpson.
- A.J. Foyt Racing: Features drivers David Malukas in the No. 4 car and Santino Ferrucci in the No. 14, both aiming to elevate the team’s performance.
- Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: Fields the No. 15 Fifth Third Bank Honda for Graham Rahal, the No. 30 EVTEC Honda for Devlin DeFrancesco, and the No. 45 Mi-Jack Honda for Louis Foster.
Broadcasting Changes
This season marks a new era in broadcasting, with FOX taking over as the television partner for the series. The commentary team includes Will Buxton, James Hinchcliffe, and Townsend Bell in the booth, with Kevin Lee, Jack Harvey, Georgia Henneberry, and Jamie Little reporting from the pits.
Fans can look forward to a rich experience, with various food vendors, merchandise stalls, and interactive activities throughout the venue. For those unable to attend in person, the race will be broadcast in over 200 countries, showcasing St. Petersburg to a global audience.
Race Brings Big Money To St. Petersburg
Beyond the on-track excitement, the Firestone Grand Prix significantly boosts the local economy. Mayor Ken Welch anticipates over 100,000 spectators, generating more than $60 million in economic impact, providing a substantial boost to local businesses.
“This race has grown into a premier event for our city, one that attracts fans from all over the world, puts St. Pete on the global stage and brings a powerful economic boost to our local businesses.”
-St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch
Safety Measures and Fan Experience
Ensuring spectator safety is paramount. A comprehensive safety plan has been coordinated among multiple law enforcement agencies to provide a secure environment for all attendees. If you plan on attending, there are some things you shouldn’t bring with you. Banners, Aerosol Cans (except sunscreen) , noise makers, large bags, and large camera lenses are among the items on the rather extensive “Prohibited” list. For a full run-down, visit the Grand Prix’s website here.
As you might expect, an event of this magnitude will involve some road closures. During the Grand Prix weekend events, the following nearby roads will be closed:
- 6th Ave. S, 5th Ave. S, 4th Ave. S, and 2nd Ave. S of 2nd St. will all be closed.
- 1st Ave. S and Central Ave. SE of 1st Street will be closed.
- Bayshore Drive south of 2nd Ave. NE will be closed except for traffic accessing Demens Landing.
Parking
Parking at Tropicana Field Rays Lot 6 & 7 only. Enter the lots at 3rd Avenue South and Dr. MLK Jr Street South and head west to the main entrance at 10th Street South.
- Fee: $30
- Parking by credit card only, cash is not accepted.
Accessible Parking (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
All permanent public, on-street accessible spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional on-street accessible spaces available on the north side of Central Avenue between 1st Street and 2nd Street. The SouthCore and USF St. Pete garages and Tropicana Field lots provide accessible parking at the prevailing rate. The USF St. Pete garage is recommended for those with limited mobility wishing to enter the 5th Avenue South gate (Gate 5) and the SouthCore garage is recommended for those wishing to enter the 1st Avenue South gate (Gate 1). Parking fee at SouthCore Garage is $25 for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Motorcycle Parking (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) Available for $10, along the west side of 1st Street S between 1st Avenue S and Central Avenue.
Tickets and Additional Information
Tickets start at $25, with three-day passes beginning at $75. For detailed information on ticketing, event schedules, and more, visitors are encouraged to check the official Firestone Grand Prix website.
