A Perfect Race Weekend- St. Pete Wrap Up

thepitwindow

Photo: Scott McLaughlin at the post race press conference.

Race weekends just don’t get any better than the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding that concluding with a very good race yesterday.

Scott McLaughlin won his first Indycar race by hitting the correct pit strategy and holding off defending series champion Alex Palou by 0.5 seconds. The race was a fascinating ix of pit strategies, complicated by the race’s only caution flag, which happened at the start of the first pit window.

Scott McLaughlin leads Alex Palou in the closing laps. Turn 10 saw a lot of passes for position Sunday.

Huge Crowds

The race, however, was just one part of what made the final weekend of February so special. The crowd was definitely a record. I have been going to this race since 2013, and I have not seen a crowd this size in St. Pete. Indycar officials say attendance was up 49% from the 140,000 in 2019, the last pre pandemic race. In 2020 and 2021, the race had a limit of 20,000 fans each day.

I have never seen the turn 10 bleachers so full, and the general admission area in front of the Mahaffey Theater was packed.

Fans on the lawn just before the green flag.

The atmosphere at the track on Sunday felt like Race Day at IMS.

Party in the Park

The Grand Prix added a free event for fans Saturday afternoon. Party in the Park featured giveaways, including a two seater ride, show cars, and driver interviews. The event was well attended. I was pleased to see so many families there.

Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist talk to the crowd.
Half a dozen Indycars and and Indy Lights cars were on display.

Sirius XM I’s Indycar channel conducted driver interviews at the event. Tony Kanaan and Conor Daly were guests when I arrived.

After sunset fireworks lit up the harbor.

Ancillary events like Party in the Park are essential to the community involvement needed for a successful street race. The St. Petersburg race has grown steadily since I began attending. This year the event has begun to approach the level of Long Beach. I hope this trend continues.

Reunions

The season opener at St. Pete is always a time to see friends that you haven’t seen all winter. In 2022, the reunions were more special. I saw some dear friends I hadn’t been able to see in three years due to the pandemic. I am now more eager for the month of May, when I will be able to see even more friends in person.

2 thoughts on “A Perfect Race Weekend- St. Pete Wrap Up”

  1. I totally agree-never seen a crowd this big at St. Pete. The last time I have been in a crush of people comparable to getting out of the main grandstands yesterday was around Gate 5 and Gate 6 before the 100th Indy 500. Great to see McLaughlin secure his first win, and great to see you as well! Thanks also so my first appearance on The Pit Window (off Conor’s shoulder in that pic). LOL

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