NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers and Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles will celebrate the 100 Days Countdown to the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Friday, Feb. 14 with a Valentine’s Day Party at Riley Hospital for Children and the 100 Days Out Fan Party at IMS. Activities will start from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET with a Valentine’s Day Party for patients of Riley Hospital for Children in the Child Life Zone in downtown Indianapolis. Attendance for the fan-friendly 100 Days Out Party at IMS is at capacity. IMS will launch its new 2025 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge brand campaign, “This Is May,” at the party. Fans also will be shown a premiere of the commercial spot created by IMS Productions. WHAT: Valentine’s Day Party at Riley Hospital for Children WHO: J. Douglas Boles, IMS President Louis Foster, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Driver Jack Harvey, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports Driver Callum Ilott, PREMA Racing Driver Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren Driver WHEN: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 WHERE: Riley Hospital for Children, Child Life Zone, 705 Riley Drive, Indianapolis *** WHAT: 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge 100 Days Out Fan Party WHO: J. Douglas Boles, IMS President Tony Kanaan, 2013 Indianapolis 500 Winner Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Hollinger Racing Driver Robert Schwartzman, PREMA Racing Driver WHEN: 7-9:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 WHERE: Gallagher Pavillion and North Chalet, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
I first attended the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in 2013. It was my first IndyCar street race. I thought the event was okay, the race was good, and I fell in love with the city of St. Pete. I remember very few signs advertising the race around the downtown, and while I saw potential for growth, I wondered how solid the community support was. Still, I came back every year except 2020. There has been phenomenal growth of the event.
Starting in early February it is evident that a race is taking place. There are street post banners, and the number of businesses sporting checkered flags and bunting seems to increase annually. Green Savoree Promotions and the city have worked together to make the Grand Prix the city’s premier event. Two years ago I noticed how much more difficult it had become to walk through the midway area. This race is now comparable to Long Beach as far as excitement.
Putting on a successful street race takes community buy in, cooperation from the city council, and a promoter willing to work with the city. St. Pete checks all those boxes.
For example, the city allows the Grand Prix 75 days to build the track, run the race, and tear down the track. This year Green Savoree will use just 27 days starting this coming Monday. The Road to Indy will have a test session on the track February 27.
Kim Green discusses the expanded marina area and announces sdeveral VIO areas are sold out.
The event plans to improve the general admission experience with gathering points where fans can watch the race on big screen televisions.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch talks about the new champions wall.
Per the press kit, a new champions wall has been added to accommodate recent and future winners. the following quote from Green Savoree:
“A third wall will be constructed and added to the monument ahead of the 2025 event to make space for recent and future race winner plaques to be added, including victories by Scott McLaughlin in 2022, Marcus Ericsson in 2023 and Pato O’Ward in 2024.”
Kyle Kirkwood helped kick off the track build ceremony for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg this morning. I had an opportunity to chat with him afterwards. Look for some notes about today’s event in a later story.
Kyle Kirkwood believes he and his Andretti teammates will have an even better season in 2025 than they had in 2024, when they had many top 10 and top five finishes, but onlt two wins and a couple of poles to show for it.
The Jupiter, Florida native is always excited to race at St. Pete. His two IndyCar victories have come on street courses, and he would love to add his home race to that total.
On his 2024 season, Kirkwood said, “I think we took a step in the right direction. We just didn’t have the elusive wins and podiums that we needed. But I’d have to say we gave ourselves really good opportunities to have wins. We gave ourselves four or five good opportunities to win races, and none of them panned out for us. So we just got to keep doing it, keep digging, and hopefully this year will be even better than it was last year.”
His optimism stems from the addition of the crew that worked on the Myere Shank teams last year, who are now exclusively with Andretti Global.
“This year is different for Andretti, and it’s a little bit of the C suite change. I just hs pumped everyone up. We have an influx of engineers with Shank going away, they’re now in house. They’re helping us with other projects, and the crew is gelling together. Well, we’re putting a huge effort in. So only good things to come,” Kirkwood said.
On the hybrid at the Indianapolis 500, Kirkwood thinks it is too early to tell how it will affect things, but he doesn’t look for a significant difference.
“I would say, it’s not going to change the racing. You know, I don’t think people want the racing to change, right? I think it’s been phenomenal there. So that’s a positive thing to say, ” he said.
“But ultimately it is adding weight to the car, which is the negative, so hopefully the positives outweigh the negatives with that. So yeah, I mean, we’re looking forward to it. It’ll be a new challenge, hopefully a new thing that we can get ahead on.”
IndyCar introduced the hybrid energy recovery system mind season in 2024. Of the tracks that will se the ERS used for the first time in 2025, Kirkwood cited two where he believes it will be most effective.
“Thermal will be extremely effective. We didn’t have we didn’t have it at Road America (last year), yeah, it’ll be very effective there. We’re going to get a huge influx of power for a period of time on that on that track, because how long it is, so how you use it, how you manage it, and what time gain you have from it will be, will be important.”
INDYCAR Party in the Park and 5K Run on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Track Return Thursday, Feb. 27th to North Straub Park
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2025) –INDYCAR Party in the Park and the 5K Run on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Track will commence an action-packed Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding weekend on Thursday, Feb. 27. These community activities will take place in downtown St. Petersburg at North Straub Park and launch the festivities around the 21st annual running of this marquee motorsport event headlined by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ season-opening race. Open to the public, the fourth annual INDYCAR Party in the Park will feature special guests, including NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers, music, giveaways, food trucks and more. Race cars representing all series running on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding weekend schedule will also be on display for fans to view up close. The event will run from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. ET, but fans are encouraged to get downtown early as cars from nearly every competing INDYCAR team will parade northbound on Bayshore Dr. starting near The Dali Museum and ending in North Straub Park. The free party will coincide with another community event, the 5K Run on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Track. Open to both runners and walkers, the 5K will start and end on Bayshore Drive NE, adjacent to North Straub Park, and will join the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding race track at Turn 9 on Central Avenue. Part of the INDYCAR Party in the Park festivities will include recognizing 5K participants on stage. Registrations for the 5K are available while supplies last at gpstpete5k.com. The 2024 charity run/walk sold out as 1,200 participants took to the circuit. Registration is $40 in advance or $50 the day of the event, and all proceeds will benefit the Police Athletic League (PAL) of St. Petersburg, supporting its many programs positively impacting local children and teenagers. “Bringing the fans and local community together downtown to kick off the race weekend has become another great Grand Prix tradition. These unique fan-focused events allow for up-close access to the cars, drivers and the track itself,” 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. “We encourage everyone in the area to join us downtown on the 27th and at the track throughout the weekend for all the excitement!” The weekend, of course, also features plenty of high-speed racing along the picturesque downtown St. Petersburg waterfront. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will headline the action as the premier open-wheel series in North American opens its season in St. Pete for the 15th time on Sunday, March 2. The racing schedule will also feature the sport’s rising stars as INDY NXT by Firestone, USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire and USF2000 Presented by Continental Tire speed through the downtown streets. Additionally, Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin will provide fender-bending sports car competition. Both 3-Day and Single Day Grandstand and General Admission tickets are available starting as low as $30. The festival grounds feature many great General Admission viewing areas including access to the Horse Soldier Bourbon Waterside Club floating bar at Turn 11, the trackside Ultra Party Pit along the front straight and more activations and fan gathering points to be announced soon. Fans looking to enhance their experience and get up close to the action can also purchase Firestone IndyCar Paddock Passes. Pit Passes, Rookie Racers memberships and VIP Club passes are sold out. Checkered Flag Club spots remain for those looking for exclusive hospitality options. For complete pricing, schedule and festival information, visit gpstpete.com. Follow the event on social media using @gpstpete and #FirestoneGP for the latest updates. Joining the E-Club also provides insider access to the latest news and offers. 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 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 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 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 @GPSTPETE or follow the event on X at @GPSTPETE and Instagramat @GPSTPETE using #FirestoneGP.
INDYCAR Party in the Park and 5K Run on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Track Return Thursday, Feb. 27th to North Straub Park
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2025) –INDYCAR Party in the Park and the 5K Run on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Track will commence an action-packed Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding weekend on Thursday, Feb. 27. These community activities will take place in downtown St. Petersburg at North Straub Park and launch the festivities around the 21st annual running of this marquee motorsport event headlined by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ season-opening race. Open to the public, the fourth annual INDYCAR Party in the Park will feature special guests, including NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers, music, giveaways, food trucks and more. Race cars representing all series running on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding weekend schedule will also be on display for fans to view up close. The event will run from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. ET, but fans are encouraged to get downtown early as cars from nearly every competing INDYCAR team will parade northbound on Bayshore Dr. starting near The Dali Museum and ending in North Straub Park. The free party will coincide with another community event, the 5K Run on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Track. Open to both runners and walkers, the 5K will start and end on Bayshore Drive NE, adjacent to North Straub Park, and will join the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding race track at Turn 9 on Central Avenue. Part of the INDYCAR Party in the Park festivities will include recognizing 5K participants on stage. Registrations for the 5K are available while supplies last at gpstpete5k.com. The 2024 charity run/walk sold out as 1,200 participants took to the circuit. Registration is $40 in advance or $50 the day of the event, and all proceeds will benefit the Police Athletic League (PAL) of St. Petersburg, supporting its many programs positively impacting local children and teenagers. “Bringing the fans and local community together downtown to kick off the race weekend has become another great Grand Prix tradition. These unique fan-focused events allow for up-close access to the cars, drivers and the track itself,” 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. “We encourage everyone in the area to join us downtown on the 27th and at the track throughout the weekend for all the excitement!” The weekend, of course, also features plenty of high-speed racing along the picturesque downtown St. Petersburg waterfront. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will headline the action as the premier open-wheel series in North American opens its season in St. Pete for the 15th time on Sunday, March 2. The racing schedule will also feature the sport’s rising stars as INDY NXT by Firestone, USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire and USF2000 Presented by Continental Tire speed through the downtown streets. Additionally, Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin will provide fender-bending sports car competition. Both 3-Day and Single Day Grandstand and General Admission tickets are available starting as low as $30. The festival grounds feature many great General Admission viewing areas including access to the Horse Soldier Bourbon Waterside Club floating bar at Turn 11, the trackside Ultra Party Pit along the front straight and more activations and fan gathering points to be announced soon. Fans looking to enhance their experience and get up close to the action can also purchase Firestone IndyCar Paddock Passes. Pit Passes, Rookie Racers memberships and VIP Club passes are sold out. Checkered Flag Club spots remain for those looking for exclusive hospitality options. For complete pricing, schedule and festival information, visit gpstpete.com. Follow the event on social media using @gpstpete and #FirestoneGP for the latest updates. Joining the E-Club also provides insider access to the latest news and offers. 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 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 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 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 @GPSTPETE or follow the event on X at @GPSTPETE and Instagramat @GPSTPETE using #FirestoneGP.
Andretti Global revealed their 2025 liveries yesterday. Colton Herta’s number 26 remains pretty much the same, while Kyle Kirkwood and Marcus Ericsson will sport combinations of red, white, and black. on the 27 and 28.
Auto Nation dropped its sponsorship of the 27, so Kirkwood will drive with Chili’s sponsorship. Ericsson now carries primary sponsorship from Bryant heating and Cooling, which has been an associate sponsor.
I’m glad that the cars of Kirkwood and Ericsson have different combinations of the red,white, and black. There are plenty of red and white cars on the grid already with paint schemes that are very similar.
Tim Cindric will remain as President of Team Penske’s IndyCar operations, but he is relinquishing his duties overseeing the other Penske racing efforts.
In a statement released a couple days ago, Cindric said,
“I have lived my dream job for the past 25 years as the overall leader of the Penske Racing organization. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the best people in the business while achieving many milestones together. I’ve decided I need to make a change that provides me with the flexibility I need at this stage of my career. I appreciate the understanding Roger has provided throughout our conversations and I’m confident this team will continue to succeed as we have a proven leadership team in all areas.”
Managing a racing team in one category is hard work. I can’t imagine being responsible for several different motorsports entities. It’s nice to see someone realize what their needs are and make those needs a priority. I also couldn’t imagine Penske IndyCar without Cindric. I’m glad it is what he chose to stay with.
IMS Museum Auction
The IMS Museum is auctioning cars not related to the Speedway or the Indianapolis 500. Their goal is to raise $100 million for their endowment fund. The Museum will use the funds to buy more Indy related cars and restore their current collection.
The cars going to auction throught R M Sotheby Auctioin House:
1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 R Streamliner Formula 1 car
1964 Le Mans-winning Ferrari 250 LM
1966 Ford GT40 Mk II
1957 Chevrolet Corvette SS Project XP-64
1908 Mercedes 17.3-Liter 150 HP ‘Brookland’ Semmering Rennwagen
1907 Itala 120 HP Works Racing Car
1930 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix
1991 Benetton B191 Formula 1
1965 Spirit of America Sonic I
1911 Mercedes 22/40 HP ‘Colonial’ Double Phaeton
1911 Laurin & Klement Type S2 Sportswagen
The 1954 Mercedes is the star of the lot expected to go for more than $52 million.
UPDATE– The 1954 Mercedes has sold for $ 51.15 million
The cars made rare appearances on the display floor. I was fortunate enough to see them all when I took the basement tours which was offered a few years ago.
I understand the Museum’s reasons for selling these cars, but I didn’t think it hurt to have a car or two in their collection that wasn’t an Indy car.
Getting Closer
The Firestone Grand prix of St, Petersburg is just 28 days away. This Thursday, February 6, the event will hold its “First Block ceremony, where the first section of wall is put in place on the back stretch. Andretti driver Kyle Kirkwood is expected to attend along with drivers from he other series who will race that weekend.
A late update: Tower Motorsports gas been disqualified from its LMP2 win, and the victory in the class goes to United Autosport car 22
Daniel Goldburg, Paul di Resta, Rasmus Lindh and James Allen were 44 seconds behind at the finish. The disqualification was due to excessive wear on on a skid block.
This time it wasn’t as close, and the race actually went the entire 24 hours. The Penske Porsches both finished on the podium in GTP, with 7 car driven by Nick Tandy, Felipe Nasr, and Laurens Vanthoor coming home first. It was Vanthoor’s first Rolex win.
Meyer Shank’s number 60 Acura spoiled a Penske 1-2 by getting by car 6 late in the race. It was a triumphant return to IMSA for the Meyer Shank team, who sat out last year after being disqualified from the win in 2023. The team included IndyCar drivers Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist, who joined regular drivers Colin Braun and Tom Blomqvist.
There was high attrition and 14 yellow flag periods, which seemed like more as several came in rapid succession in the middle of the night. 16 cars dropped out of the race, and several others got repaired and returned to action. A five car crash in turn 1 in the ninth hour took out cars from the top three classes. There was an audible groan from the crowd in the plaza watching on the jumbotron when AO Racing’s number 77 Porsche, “Rexy,” was involved.
As usual, the Rolex 24 is 21 and a half hours of getting into position to contend during the last 150 minutes. As usual, it was a show worth waiting for. It was evident most of the race that GTP would come down to four cars- the Porsches, an Acura, and the number 24 BMW. The BMW faded from the group with about three hours left, but by then it was clear that the 7 was the best car. The fight was for second, and the Acura prevailed.
Night racing is the best.
In LMP2, Sebastien Bourdais adde to his Rolex collection in the Tower motorsports entry. He teamed with John Farano, Sebastian Alvarez, and Job Van Uitert.
GTD Pro saw a classic battle between Corvette and Mustang, which was fun to watch. The Mustang, in only its second year in IMSA, won, and the other team car finished third. Winning drivers in car 65 were Christoopher Mies, Dennis Olsen, and Frederic Vervisch.
Corvette prevailed in GTD, however, with the AWA entry, Drivers Marvin Kirchhofer, Lars Kern, Orey Fidani, and Matthew Bell piloted the car.
Alex Palou drove the number 93 Acura. The car encountered issues and finished 40 laps off the pace. Scott McLaughlin’s team finished ninth in GTD Pro.in the Trackhouse Corvette.
Notes
The amount of cautions allowed the leaders to complete only781 laps. Only the top three cars were on the lead lap at the finish.
The Lamborghini team, with Romain Grosjean as one of the drivers, did not last long and was the first car to retire.
Attendance at the Rolex 24 seems to grow each year. It is getting to the point where the track needs to exert more crowd control, especially in the general camping areas. I think reserved camping spots for everyone should be implemented. Humans are territorial by nature, and some seem to be trying to take more space than they need.
The grid walk gets more crowded every year.
Ask First -AO Racing reported that fans took some damaged parts from Rexy’s crashed car without permission. While some teams are happy to give away some parts, fans need to ask before they tak anything. Some teams can’t afford to give away anything, even if it is damaged. I would hate to see a ban on giving parts away to fans, but if this continues, the track and series might have to say no more giveaways.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 