A robust size crowd and sunny skies has the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg off to a great start. While waiting for the 3:05 pm start to IndyCar practice, I took a walk through the midway. It looks like there are more vendors than last year, and a new fan amenity has been added to the lawn in front of the Mahaffey Theater. Tables and chairs are set up, and a big screen television is attached s above the theater. The set up is similar to the fan plaza at the Rolex in Daytona for the 24 race.

The lines for the autograph session are usually long, but one line in particular today was one of the longest I’ve ever seen. I can only assume Pato O’Ward was at a table for this line. This photo is just a portion of the line.

Some drivers from Indy NXT and IndyCar met with the media this morning. I thought there was more media present than I’ve seen here in a few years.

PREMA, the new IndyCar team, arrived in style with an impressive looking paddock.

I’ll be back after practice with a wrap-up for the day.