Qualifying Groups for St. Pete
Author: thepitwindow
I'm a retired educator and lifelong racing fan. I hope to return to fostering greyhounds in the near future. Living mainly in Indy and wintering in Florida. I attend about 10 Indycar races a year as well as some sports car events
Ericsson Tops Practice
Marcus Ericsson led morning practice as IndyCars teams prepare for this afternoon’s Firestone Grand prix of St. Petersburg qualifying. Ericsson’s lap of1:00.5151 edged Rinus VeeKay by 0,09 seconds. Ericsson set his quick time on primary tires while VeeKay was on the alternates for his best lap.
It was a very good session for Juncos Hollinger Racing. Conor Daly was fifth and Sting Ray Robb finished the session in seventh. David maluks, in his first outing for A. J. Foyt Racing, wwas 10th’
Josef newgarden was the quickest Penske driver in 14th. Will Power stalled in turn 1 early in the practice, which brought out a red flag. Scott McLaughlin ran some very cautious laps’
A second red flag just past the midway point flew because of a track surface issue in turn 12.
Each of the Andretti cars has led a practice segment the last two days.
Qualifying begins at 2:30 pm Eastern on FS1.
Results
Saturday at St. Pete
All times Eastern. Morning IndyCar practice on FS2.
Qualifying on FS1
Today’s schedule:
Number change– Conor Daly’s car will be number 76 this weekend as Juncos Hollinger Racing has a new sponsor in Union 76 gasoline. We’ll see if this number stays throughout the season or just at select races. One positive is that the 76 in an orange circle on the side if the roll hoop makes the JHR easier to tell apart.
FOX first broadcast– The biggest complaint about yesterday’s practice on FOX was ta plethora of commercials. Comments I have seen on social media say that the content was very good and that the raphics looked great.
Last night the network said that all commercials during the race will be side by side. It’s a step n the right direction.
This morning’s practice will give a better idea of who will contend for the pole. Andretti looked strong yesterday with Kyle Kirkwood and Colton Herta each leading a segment. Kirkwood led the session overall. Don’t count out Team Penske, McLaren, or Ganassi cars thought. They all had good runs.
I’ll be back after practice with a quick qualifying preview.
Kirkwood Tops Opening Practice
Kyle Kirkwood had the overall fastest time in the season opening practice session for the Grand Prix of St. Pete. The session consisted of a 45 minute session followed by two 10 minute sessions, each for half the field. Kirkwood’s fast time of 1:00.4409 came in first 10 minute session.
Colton Herta and Scot Dixon did not come on track until the last 10 minutes of the main practice.
Alex Palou led the long session and Colton Herta had the fastest time in the second short period.
Three spins mared the practice. The two Meyer Shank cars, first by Felix Rosenqvist, and then one by his teammate Marcus Armstrong, resulted in no contact and the session did not stop. The first 10 minute period ended when Scott McLaughlin hit the wall and had damage to the left front. McLaughlin still ended with the third best lap.
This looked to be the biggest Friday crowd I have seen at St. Pete. The turn 10 grandstand was quite full.
That will do it for The Pit Window today. See you tomorrow for qualifying.
Results
St. Pete Friday Mid Day Report
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.
St. Pete Spotters’ Guide
Study it well.
St. Pete Preview
Today’s Schedule: All times Eastern.
Indy NXT and IndyCar practices on FS1.
And so it begins. Another IndyCar season is a little more than 48 hours away. Off seasons seem to get longer with each passing winter, and to arrive at the St. Pete track on Friday of Race Weekend is the true beginning of spring.
2025 brings a new television partner, FOX, which has done an amazing job with promotions since January. I hope the momentum continues through the season. Sunday’s broadcast will be their first big test.
The 2025 season brings a few rules changes. IndyCar will allow drivers to start a stalled cr on pit lane with the self starter of the hybrid component. Last yearthis was not allowed. This makes sense.
Tire allocations have changed for road and street courses. Teams now have an extra set of alternates and one less set of primaries. The new allotment may allow teams to be more aggressive in qualifying and still have a set of new alternates for the race.
The extra alternate set may also play into race strategy. Teams that didn’t advance in qualifying were thought to have a bit of an edge because they saved a set of alternates. That advantage is now neutralized to some extent.
Rookies
Three rookies- Jacob Abel, Louis Foster, and Robert Shwartzman, make their IndyCar debuts this weekend. Only Shwartzman has not raced at St. Pete before.
I always find it fascinating to watch how rookies do at St. Pete. I remember Robert Wickens did pretty well his rookie year here.
In addition to rookie drivers, IndyCar has a rookie team. PREMA makes it series debut with Shwartzman and Callum Ilott. I look at this race as shakedown for them. Anything inside the top 20 would be a good showing.
No Change at the Top
Team Penske has dominated this event, winning seven of the last 10 races, They have not won the last two. Marcus Ericsson won in 2023 driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, and Pato O’Ward won last year for McLaren after finishing second to Ericsson the year before. I look for another O’Ward victory Sunday.
Firestone to Continue as Title Sponsor of the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg through 2028
From Firetone:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 27, 2025) – Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) today announced a three-year extension for its Firestone brand as the entitlement sponsor of the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. This agreement with Green Savoree Racing Promotions marks the continuation of a successful relationship that began in 2014. The new deal keeps the Firestone name on the opening race of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season through 2028.
“St. Pete is always an exciting event as we reconnect with fans and wave the green flag for a new season of racing,” said Lisa Boggs, Director, Bridgestone Americas Motorsports. “We take great pride in Firestone’s rich history in the sport, and starting each season at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has become a big part of that. We’re excited to extend this tradition as part of our ongoing commitment to driving excitement and innovation in racing for years to come.”
The renewed entitlement agreement for the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg continues to reinforce the Firestone brand’s support for the fastest racing on earth. In September 2024, Bridgestone and Penske Entertainment announced a long-term extension for Firestone as the exclusive tire supplier for all INDYCAR-sanctioned racing.
“Firestone has been an integral part of the growth and success of the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg as title sponsor. This latest extension will take our partnership to a remarkable 15-year span,” said Kim Green, co-owner, chairman and CEO of Green Savoree Racing Promotions, organizers of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. “It’s an iconic brand that’s helped champions redefine limits in racing for generations, which aligns perfectly with the energy and excitement that embody this event.”
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding has become a marquee event, combining the excitement of INDYCAR racing with a stunning waterfront backdrop and a unique urban street circuit. This year’s event is scheduled for Feb. 28-March 2 to open the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg marks the start of the 26th consecutive season for Firestone as the exclusive tire supplier. This year is also the 125th anniversary of Firestone’s founding in Akron, Ohio on August 3, 1900. Known for its durability, dependability, and unwavering dedication to quality, Firestone remains a trusted name in tire performance both on the road and on the track.
The brand’s storied history in motorsports began in 1911 with a win at the inaugural Indianapolis 500®, and its roots run nearly as deep in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. Firestone Complete Auto Care opened its first local retail location in 1933 on Kennedy Boulevard in downtown Tampa. For more than 90 years, it has continued to grow and strengthen its legacy as a trusted tire and automotive service provider for the local community.
Both the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the INDY NXT by Firestone development series races on the streets of St. Petersburg will be televised on Sunday, March 2. The INDY NXT by Firestone race will air on FS1 at 10 a.m. ET, and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will make its debut on FOX network television beginning at 12 noon ET.
Bridgestone motorsports activities are leveraged globally as co-creation platforms to help deliver the values of the Bridgestone E8 Commitment. This corporate commitment outlines eight areas where the company is focused on contributing to a more sustainable world. The ongoing relationship with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES supports the values of emotion, energy, ecology, and empowerment.
For more company news, visit BridgestoneAmericas.com
About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:
Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in tires and rubber, building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Bridgestone Americas employs more than 50,000 people across its worldwide operations. Bridgestone offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tires and advanced solutions backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.
About Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Presented by RP Funding
The 21st annual Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding is a race event held during Florida’s spring break season. Traditionally the site of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ season-opening race, St. Pete is a destination city hosting this annual motorsports tradition and offering a festival atmosphere with its downtown location. The temporary circuit is a 1.8-mile, 14-turn configuration that uses the streets circling Pioneer Park, the Duke Energy Center for the Arts, The Dali Museum and extending onto the runway at Albert Whitted Airport, and borders the waterfront of Tampa Bay and picturesque St. Petersburg Harbor and Marina. The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding airs live on a national broadcast on FOX. FOX Sports named the race one of its “50 Events You Can’t Miss in 2025.” The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding is owned and operated by Green Savoree St. Petersburg, LLC. Green Savoree St. Petersburg, LLC is owned by Green Savoree Racing Promotions 2, LLC whose other subsidiaries also promote three additional NTT INDYCAR SERIES races, The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (July 4-6, 2025), Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto (July 18-20, 2025) and BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland (Aug. 8-10, 2025).
For more information, visit gpstpete.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page at @GPSTPETE or follow the event on X @GPSTPETE and Instagram @GPSTPETE using #FirestoneGP.
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FOX Goes for Familiarity with Pit Reporter Lineup
Like they did with the broadcast booth, FOX Sports has kept faces familiar to IndyCar fans on pit road as the network announced its pit reporters. Kevin Lee and Georgia Henneberry return along with driver Jack Harvey. Jamie Little will begin the season as Henneberry tends to her newborn and will come on in June.
The pit road crew compliments the trio in the booth where Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe will join Will Buxton. Ony Buxton and Harvey are new to IndyCar broadcasts.
The news is a great relief to me, especially where Lee is concerned. I can’t imagine an IndyCar television broadcast without him. From some comments he has made on Trackside this winter, I did not think there was any chance he would return to the series.
Little has worked the pits for the Indianapolis 500. She is a consummate professional.
Henneberry is an outstanding reporter who has gotten better every season.
Harvey has expressed an interest inthe broadcasting sid eof racing, and i am glad he will get a chance. I will give him a pass at St. Pete and Thermal as he settles into his new role. Harvey will be driving for DRR in the 500.
FOX has done a great job with creative promotiions this year. They have assembled a competent, knowledgeable crew to call the race. The question is, how will the production look? Will there be fewer intrusive commercials? Will we see excessive replays of the same action?
One of the ways I judge a race broadcast is by the number of green laps shown. I hope time returning from commercial breaks isn’t cluttered with race recaps or prolonged aerial shots of the surrounding area. Save that for prerace.
I am excited to see what the race broadcast looks like.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 