Promoters Kim Green (at mic) and Kevin Savoree welcome guests to the start of race weekend

If the crowd at the Chamber of Commerce Green Flag VIP and Media is any indication, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is on track for a record crowd. I have attended this event for three years now, and today;s attendance was by far the largest I have seen. The city of St. Petersburg has fully embraced this event.

Eight Indycar drivers and drivers from all the support series running this weekend attended. Indycar drivers at the lunch included Colin Braun, Jack Harvey, Sting Ray Robb, Santino Ferrucci, Pietro Fittipaldi, Agustin Canapino, Scott Dixon, and Alexander Rossi.

Lis Boggs from Bridgestone/Firestone presented a check ofr $10,000 to Kids Spark Education Foundation in memory of Gil de Ferran.

Rossi and Dixon shared some of their misadventures flying Spirit Airlines. Dixon said his flight needed three attempts to take off.

Grand Prix staff I spoke with said that ticket sales are ahead of last year, which saw a record attendance.

Notes

Canapino seems more relaxed than he was at this time last year. He is excited about his second season in Indycar, and he believes he learned a lot in 2023. he is eager to work with teammate Romain Grosjean.

The Lionheart will debut on Max next week at 9 pm Eastern March 12.

The coveted blue envelopes are ready for mailing. Story up in a bit.

I will have my race preview up tomorrow morning.