Street Assessment

By ROCKET SPORTS and ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK on February 15, 2013

Photo courtesy of the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.- The countdown to the green flag is on. Earlier today, organizers of the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg were joined by IZOD IndyCar Series driver Sebastien Bourdais to usher in the first blocks of the 1.8 mile, 14-turn street course. This year will mark the third consecutive season that the event will serve as the opening race for the IZOD IndyCar Series, which features the fastest, most versatile race cars and drivers in the world.

The race track for the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is built by about 250 construction workers and takes 35 days to build – a process that becomes more efficient year over year. More than 20,000 feet of steel-reinforced concrete blocks, 44,000 feet of chain-link fencing and over 12,000 tires are used in the construction of the race track. The track also features a front straight that is 2,350 feet long, five race car paddocks and eight grandstands for spectators.

“We are excited to begin the track build process as we prepare to host the season-opening IZOD IndyCar Series race,” said Tim Ramsberger, President of the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. “We look forward to showcasing our beautiful waterfront and all that St. Petersburg has to offer, through the numerous visitors that attend and a world-wide viewing audience that spans over 200 countries.”

Tickets to the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg are available now at gpstpete.com or by phone at 877-283-5385.

2012 Champion Helio Castroneves on his way to the checkered (photo by Rodney Meyering)

About the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg takes place March 22-24, 2013 and is run on a 1.8-mile, 14-turn waterfront circuit that includes a combination of adjacent downtown streets circling Pioneer Park, the Progress Energy Center for the Arts, the Salvador Dali Museum and extending onto the runways at Albert Whitted Airport, which overlook the Tampa Bay and picturesque St. Petersburg Harbor and Marina.

To learn more about the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, visit gpstpete.com. ‘Like’ us on Facebook atfacebook.com/GPSTPETE, follow us on Twitter via @GPSTPETE and subscribe to us on UNATIONunation.com/GPSTPETE.