St. Petersburg street circuit

St. Petersburg Street Circuit
Grand Prix Circuit (2003–present)
LocationSt. Petersburg, Florida
Coordinates27°45′59″N 82°37′45″W / 27.76639°N 82.62917°W / 27.76639; -82.62917
FIA Grade2
Opened1985
Major eventsCurrent:
IndyCar Series
Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (2003, 2005–present)
Future:
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at St. Petersburg (2026)
Former:
Stadium Super Trucks (2014–2017, 2021)
American Le Mans Series (2007–2009)
Trans-Am Series (1985–1991, 1996–1997, 2003)
Can-Am (1985)
Grand Prix Circuit (2003–present)
Length1.800 mi (2.897 km)
Turns14
Race lap record1:00.6795 ( Josef Newgarden, Dallara DW12, 2024, IndyCar)
Grand Prix Circuit (1996–1997)
Length1.690 mi (2.720 km)
Turns8
Race lap record1:14.800 ( Tommy Kendall, Ford Mustang, 1997, Trans-Am)
Grand Prix Circuit (1986–1990)
Length2.000 mi (3.219 km)
Turns11
Race lap record1:17.440 ( Scott Pruett, Merkur XR4Ti, 1987, Trans-Am)
Original Grand Prix Circuit (1985)
Length2.000 mi (3.219 km)
Turns9
Race lap record1:23.020 ( Peter Greenfield, Ralt RT4, 1985, Can-Am)

The streets of St. Petersburg, in the U.S. state of Florida, hosts IndyCar racing, and later the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series racing, from 1985.

The race takes place on a street circuit, utilizing downtown streets, and one runway of Albert Whitted Airport. The event dates back to 1985, with IndyCars first competing in 2003 and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series first competing in 2026.

Background

The inaugural 1985 event was organized by William T. McVey, president of the McBri Corporation in Tampa, Florida and a member of IMSA and the SCCA.[1] The SCCA Trans-Am Series held a race on a St. Petersburg downtown waterfront circuit from 1985 to 1990. Can-Am also competed in 1985. Local residents and businesses complained about noise, and the event was eventually put on hiatus.[2] Driver Jim Fitzgerald was killed in a crash during the 1987 race.[3][4]

From 1996 to 1997, the St. Petersburg race was revived on a different course around Tropicana Field (about one mile west of the original waterfront course). Along with the Trans-Am Series, support races included USF2000, Speed World Challenge, Pro SRF and Barber Dodge. The event subsequently went again on hiatus for several years.[2]

In 2003, the event was revived again for the CART Championship Series. A new, modified version of the original 1985 waterfront circuit was created. For 2004, the event was cancelled due to a dispute between the promoters, furthermore, the bankruptcy and liquidation of the CART series into the new Champ Car World Series saw a shakeup of the calendar. When the race returned in 2005, it switched to the IndyCar Series, marking the first non-oval event for the Indy Racing League. In 2007, the race weekend was expanded to include an American Le Mans Series event.

In 2026, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will join IndyCar with their own event.[5]

Course

The Streets of St. Petersburg course is a street circuit connecting existing roads with one of the two runways of Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg, Florida. It also dips into the parking lot at Al Lang Stadium. St. Petersburg is classified as an FIA Grade Two circuit.[6]

First Bayfront course

The original 1985 Trans-Am course utilized a similar layout to the course used today. For the first year the track actually ran out to the pier, made a 180 degree turn and returned. At the end of Bayshore Drive, rather than diverting off to the airport runways, the course circled around 5th Avenue Southeast around Bayfront Arena, and the start/finish line was located just south of the paddock (the parking lot of Bayfront Arena). In addition, the old course traveled further up Beach Drive Northeast, all the way to 5th Avenue Northeast. 5th Ave. NE was a very narrow segment. The course came south down Bayshore Drive Northeast, and passed by The Pier.

Tropicana Field course

The second course at Tropicana Field was located about a mile west of the waterfront location. The circuit used the roads around the perimeter of the parking lot of the stadium.

Second Bayfront course

When the course was reconfigured, the northbound segment turned at Central Avenue instead, and did not go as far as The Pier. The pits and main straight were moved to the airport, and a purpose-built paddock area was paved next to the runway. The Albert Whitted Park was reconfigured/relocated, and the entire course layout was repaved.

The pits and paddock areas, as well as link from Dan Wheldon Way to the airport runway (turns 11, 12, and 13) were constructed specifically for the circuit in 2003, and are considered permanent features of the otherwise temporary circuit.

After the crash at the 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship that killed Snell Isle resident Dan Wheldon, who won the 2005 race and two Indianapolis 500 titles, the straight following Turn 10 (the turn from Bayshore Drive to Albert Whitted Park) was renamed "Dan Wheldon Way" in his memory. The sign and commemorative plaque was unveiled by St. Petersburg mayor Bill Foster on March 6, 2012. A permanent Dan Wheldon Memorial is located next to the Dali Museum on the opposite side of Turn 10, where race winners have their names placed on the memorial.[7]

Layout history

  • Grand Prix Circuit (1986–1990)
  • Grand Prix Circuit (1996–1997)
  • Grand Prix Circuit (2003–present)

Events

Current
Former

Lap records

As of March 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the St. Petersburg street circuit are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Event
Grand Prix Circuit (2003–present): 2.897 km[8]
IndyCar 1:00.6795 Josef Newgarden Dallara DW12 2024 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
CART 1:01.825 Sébastien Bourdais Lola B02/00 2003 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
LMP2 1:04.340[9] Ryan Briscoe Porsche RS Spyder Evo 2007 Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg
LMP1 1:04.725[9] Allan McNish Audi R10 TDI 2007 Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg
Indy NXT 1:04.7732[10] Dennis Hauger Dallara IL-15 2025 Indy NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Indy Pro 2000 1:08.1141[11] Sting Ray Robb Tatuus PM-18 2020 Indy Pro 2000 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
GT1 1:09.770[12] Oliver Gavin Chevrolet Corvette C6.R 2008 Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg
LMP3 1:10.872[13] Jagger Jones Duqueine D-08 2024 St. Petersburg IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge round
USF2000 1:11.8416[14] Jack Jeffers Tatuus USF-22 2025 Foundation Building Materials Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
GT2 1:12.699[9] Tomáš Enge Ferrari F430 GTC 2007 Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg
GT3 1:13.642[15] Justin Wetherill Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 2022 St. Petersburg GT America round
Barber Pro 1:13.930[16] Dan Di Leo Reynard 98E 2003 St. Petersburg Barber Pro round
Trans-Am 1:14.634[17] Scott Pruett Jaguar XKR 2003 St. Petersburg Trans-Am round
Porsche Carrera Cup 1:15.016[18] Jeff Kingsley Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup 2020 St. Petersburg Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA round
GT4 1:17.008[13] Jesse Lazare McLaren Artura GT4 2024 St. Petersburg IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge round
SRO GT2 1:18.881[15] C.J. Moses Audi R8 LMS GT2 2022 St. Petersburg GT America round
GTS 1:21.777[19] Peter Cunningham Acura TSX 2012 St. Petersburg Pirelli World Challenge round
Mazda MX-5 Cup 1:24.259[20] Jeremy Fletcher Mazda MX-5 (ND) 2025 St. Petersburg Mazda MX-5 Cup round
TC 1:25.101[19] Tristan Hebert Volkswagen GLI 2012 St. Petersburg Pirelli World Challenge round
Grand Prix Circuit (1996–1997): 2.720 km[8]
Trans-Am 1:14.800[21] Tommy Kendall Ford Mustang 1997 St. Petersburg Trans-Am round
Grand Prix Circuit (1986–1990): 3.219 km[8]
Trans-Am 1:17.440[22] Scott Pruett Merkur XR4Ti 1987 St. Petersburg Trans-Am round
Grand Prix Circuit (1985): 3.219 km[8]
Can-Am 1:23.020[23] Peter Greenfield Ralt RT4 1985 Can-Am Challenge at St. Petersburg
Trans-Am 1:27.836[24] Willy T. Ribbs Mercury Capri 1985 St. Petersburg Trans-Am round

References

  1. ^ Koff, Stephen (26 July 1991). "Council not ready to give race go-ahead". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b "St. Petersburg Grand Prix: City has had false starts with racing". St. Petersburg Times. 21 February 2003. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  3. ^ "Trans-am Driver Killed In Crash During St. Petersburg Event". Sun-Sentinel. 9 November 1987. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  4. ^ "Veteran driver Fitzgerald dies". Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. 9 November 1987. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  5. ^ "NASCAR releases 2026 schedule, adding Chicagoland and shifting All-Star to Dover". NASCAR. 20 August 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  6. ^ "LIST OF FIA LICENSED CIRCUITS UPDATED ON : 2025-07-07" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 7 July 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Street in St. Petersburg named for Dan Wheldon". Fox News. AP. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  8. ^ a b c d "St. Petersburg - RacingCircuits.info". RacingCircuits.info. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  9. ^ a b c "American Le Mans Series St. Petersburg 2007". 31 March 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  10. ^ "2025 Indy NXT St. Petersburg Race Statistics". 2 March 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  11. ^ "2020 Indy Pro 2000 GP of St Petersburg Race 2 Lap Report" (PDF). 25 October 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  12. ^ "American Le Mans Series St. Petersburg 2008". 6 April 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  13. ^ a b "2024 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg - IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge - Race 2 - Provisional Results (45 Minutes)" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). 9 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  14. ^ "2025 St. Petersburg Grand Prix - Foundation Building Materials Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (USF2000) - Race 2" (PDF). 1 March 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  15. ^ a b "2022 Streets of St. Petersburg - GT America - Race 2 - Classification - Final" (PDF). 26 February 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  16. ^ "2003 Barber Dodge Pro Series Round 1: St.Petersburg, 22nd February". 22 February 2003. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  17. ^ "PRUETT RUSTY NO MORE; WINS GRAND PRIX OF ST. PETERSBURG - Complete Results". 23 February 2003. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  18. ^ "2020 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg - Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama - Race 2 Official Results (45 Minutes)" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). 27 October 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  19. ^ a b "World Challenge: Aschenbach, Bell and Cooper win race one in St. Petersburg". 24 March 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  20. ^ "2025 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg - Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Michelin - Race 2 Provisional Results (45 Minutes)" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). 2 March 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  21. ^ "1997 Trans-Am St.Petersburg". 23 February 1997. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  22. ^ "Trans-Am St. Petersburg 1987". 8 November 1987. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  23. ^ "Can-Am St. Petersburg 1985". 3 November 1985. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  24. ^ "Trans-Am St. Petersburg 1985". 3 November 1985. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
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