FIRESTONE GRAND PRIX OF ST. PETERSBURG

Streets of St. Petersburg

April 23-25, 2021

Round #2 of the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Season

GENERAL INFO – St. Petersburg, FL is once again hosting a NTT INDYCAR SERIES event! This year the event is the second race of the season. The temporary waterfront street circuit uses a combination of city streets and a runway from the Albert Whitted Airport in downtown St. Petersburg, FL. Once you clear the entry point, you will walk up temporary course crossovers (appx. 20+ steep steps) over the city street when racing is below you! Limited shade at this venue with scarce seating unless you have a grandstand ticket. General admission gets you in but not a grandstand seat.

Hot weather typically dominates this event, but also pack some disposable rain gear. A moderate amount of walking to tour the course, mostly flat surfaces, some concrete sidewalks. Wear comfortable shoes and pack as light as possible. Sunscreen and a hat are necessities. Florida spring sun can burn your skin in 12 minutes of direct sun exposure. On site, 95% of the facilities are port-a-johns.

This event was moved to the second event of the schedule due to COVID-19 issues and approval from the politicians at the City of St. Pete. It is scheduled 2 weeks later in the month than normal. It will be warm, come prepared. Refer to the COVID-19 Information piece at the conclusion of this article. The Budweiser Party Pit, Champions Club and the Waterside Club are closed for this event. 

You must wear a mask at all times – no mask, no entry. Handwashing stations and hand sanitizer stands are scattered throughout the facility. Mask up, wash up! Social distancing will also apply. 

SPECIFIC LOCATION – Downtown St. Petersburg, FL. Eastern Time Zone.

TRACK WEBSITE – gpstpete.com

TRACK CONFIGURATION – 1.8 miles, 14 turns; 5 lefts and 9 rights. Temporary street course.

PREFERRED AIRPORTS – Tampa International Airport (TPA) about 30 miles north and east of the track. St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport (PIE), about 14 miles north of the track.

PARKING – Expect to pay $10-$20 daily for parking downtown. Parking lots and garages are easy walking distance to the track entry gates. Friday is a workday for locals, so parking is sometimes difficult to find, but many downtown offices close at noon on Friday. The later in the day on Friday, the parking becomes easier. Parking is available with a shuttle to/from the track from Tropicana Field, located just off Interstate 275, follow directional signs. Expect to pay – credit cards only. With paid parking at Tropicana, shuttle rides are complimentary. Expect temperature checks when entering a shuttle.

CREDENTIALS – No credentials are available for this event.

ENTRY POINTS - Entry points reduced to Gate 1 and Gate 5. Refer to the website, gpstpete.com for a map to locate the entry gates. Expect a temperature check for gate admission. Anyone with a temp of 100.4 will be denied entry. You must wear a mask all day, whether inside or outside.

TICKET INFO – All tickets must be purchased on-line before arriving at the venue. No tickets available at the entry gates. All tickets purchased on-line will be emailed and you print from home. General admission does not include a reserved grandstand seat. Tickets@gpstpete.com. 1-727-898-4639.

Will call tickets can be picked up at the Credential Center, Rococo Steak House, 655 Second AV South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

PROHIBITED ITEMS – No food or drinks are allowed to be brought into the track, this includes alcohol beverages. Audio and video recording devices are prohibited. No chairs or stadium seats are allowed. Service animals only, leashed at all times. Provide your own bags to pickup animal waste. Leave golf carts, roller skates, weapons, skateboards, Segways, bicycles and scooters at home, you will be denied entry with them. Keep strollers as small as possible, as you must carry them up and down 20+ very steep steps at temporary course crossovers. Small umbrellas are acceptable.

CAMPING – No traditional camping is permitted, as you are downtown of a major city. Very pricey limited RV spots and yacht docking is available. Refer to website gpstpete.com for costs and details.

RESTAURANT OPTIONS – St. Pete is a major tourist destination. Seafood is featured at many establishments and much of it is fresh coming directly from Tampa Bay or the Gulf of Mexico. A variety of eating establishments are within walking distance of the track. West of St. Pete is the Gulf of Mexico pristine beaches such as St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, So Pasadena, Madeira Beach which are full of hotel, condos and restaurants from ice cream stands to fine dining. 

QUESTIONS? – gpstpete.com

COVID-19 INFORMATION AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS

1. Come prepared to have your temperature taken at the track entry points. Even if you drive inside, you may be stopped and everyone in the vehicle will be checked.
2. If you have a COVID-19 shot card, bring it with you OR make a legible copy, front and back.
3. Bring government photo I.D. with you and if it is requested, have it handy.
4. Credentials for garages/pits or paddock entry may or not be offered by INDYCAR, INDYCAR Nation members or for sale from the tracks.
5. If signs are posted to wear masks and/or social distance, just do it! Mask up!  Wash your hands frequently.

Keep in mind that neither INDYCAR nor the promoters or owners of the tracks have control over the Center for Disease Control or state and local regulations. Regulations change literally daily in many states, counties and cities as the virus is still active. When the public is restricted from the garage, pits or paddock, it is with safety being the primary issue. The teams, essential personnel and officials are tested regularly and are free from COVID-19. The goal is to keep it that way.

With vaccines readily and now available nearly everywhere for most age groups, we hope it will arrest this virus quickly and soon. Although forgettable for many, 2020 will be remembered for no fans in attendance for spectator sports world-wide. INDYCAR sets the standard as the premier entertainment series in auto racing and we are now going racing full time, full schedule with fans in the stands!