St. Petersburg Street Circuit

St. Petersburg Street Circuit
Grand Prix Circuit (2003–present)
LocationSt. Petersburg, Florida, United States
Coordinates27°45′59″N 82°37′45″W / 27.76639°N 82.62917°W / 27.76639; -82.62917
FIA Grade2
Opened1985
Major eventsCurrent:
IndyCar Series
Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (2003, 2005–present)
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
OnlyBulls Green Flag 150 (2026–present)
Former:
Stadium Super Trucks (2014–2017, 2021)
American Le Mans Series (2007–2009)
Trans-Am Series (1985–1991, 1996–1997, 2003)
Can-Am (1985)
Websitehttps://gpstpete.com/
Grand Prix Circuit (2003–present)
Length1.800 mi (2.897 km)
Turns14
Race lap record1:00.6795 (United States Josef Newgarden, Dallara IR-18, 2024, IndyCar)
Grand Prix Circuit (1996–1997)
Length1.690 mi (2.720 km)
Turns8
Race lap record1:14.800 (United States Tommy Kendall, Ford Mustang, 1997, Trans-Am)
Grand Prix Circuit (1986–1990)
Length2.000 mi (3.219 km)
Turns11
Race lap record1:17.440 (United States Scott Pruett, Merkur XR4Ti, 1987, Trans-Am)
Original Grand Prix Circuit (1985)
Length2.000 mi (3.219 km)
Turns9
Race lap record1:23.020 (United States Peter Greenfield, Ralt RT4, 1985, Can-Am)

The St. Petersburg Street Circuit is a street circuit in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States, that currently hosts both the NTT IndyCar Series (Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg) and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (OnlyBulls Green Flag 150).

The race takes place on a street circuit, utilizing downtown streets, and one runway of Albert Whitted Airport. The event dates back to 1985, with IndyCars first competing in 2003 and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series first competing in 2026.

Background

The inaugural 1985 event was organized by William T. McVey, president of the McBri Corporation in Tampa, Florida and a member of IMSA and the SCCA.[1] The SCCA Trans-Am Series held a race on a St. Petersburg downtown waterfront circuit from 1985 to 1990. Can-Am also competed in 1985. Local residents and businesses complained about noise, and the event was eventually put on hiatus.[2] Driver Jim Fitzgerald was killed in a crash during the 1987 race.[3][4]

From 1996 to 1997, the St. Petersburg race was revived on a different course around Tropicana Field (about one mile west of the original waterfront course). Along with the Trans-Am Series, support races included USF2000, Speed World Challenge, Pro SRF and Barber Dodge. The event subsequently went again on hiatus for several years.[2]

In 2003, the event was revived again for the CART Championship Series. A new, modified version of the original 1985 waterfront circuit was created. For 2004, the event was cancelled due to a dispute between the promoters, furthermore, the bankruptcy and liquidation of the CART series into the new Champ Car World Series saw a shakeup of the calendar. When the race returned in 2005, it switched to the IndyCar Series, marking the first non-oval event for the Indy Racing League. In 2007, the race weekend was expanded to include an American Le Mans Series event.

In 2026, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series joined IndyCar with their own event.[5]

Course

The section of the 2012 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg that curves through the Al Lang Stadium parking lot

The Streets of St. Petersburg course is a street circuit connecting existing roads with one of the two runways of Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg, Florida. It also dips into the parking lot at Al Lang Stadium. St. Petersburg is classified as an FIA Grade Two circuit.[6]

First Bayfront course

The original 1985 Trans-Am course utilized a similar layout to the course used today. For the first year the track actually ran out to the pier, made a 180 degree turn and returned. At the end of Bayshore Drive, rather than diverting off to the airport runways, the course circled around 5th Avenue Southeast around Bayfront Arena, and the start/finish line was located just south of the paddock (the parking lot of Bayfront Arena). In addition, the old course traveled further up Beach Drive Northeast, all the way to 5th Avenue Northeast. 5th Ave. NE was a very narrow segment. The course came south down Bayshore Drive Northeast, and passed by The Pier.

Tropicana Field course

The second course at Tropicana Field was located about a mile west of the waterfront location. The circuit used the roads around the perimeter of the parking lot of the stadium.

Second Bayfront course

Helio Castroneves approaches Dan Wheldon Way (Turn 10) on the final lap of the 2012 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

When the course was reconfigured, the northbound segment turned at Central Avenue instead, and did not go as far as The Pier. The pits and main straight were moved to the airport, and a purpose-built paddock area was paved next to the runway. The Albert Whitted Park was reconfigured/relocated, and the entire course layout was repaved.

The pits and paddock areas, as well as link from Dan Wheldon Way to the airport runway (turns 11, 12, and 13) were constructed specifically for the circuit in 2003, and are considered permanent features of the otherwise temporary circuit.

After the crash at the 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship that killed Snell Isle resident Dan Wheldon, who won the 2005 race and two Indianapolis 500 titles, the straight following Turn 10 (the turn from Bayshore Drive to Albert Whitted Park) was renamed "Dan Wheldon Way" in his memory. The sign and commemorative plaque was unveiled by St. Petersburg mayor Bill Foster on March 6, 2012. A permanent Dan Wheldon Memorial is located next to the Salvador Dalí Museum on the opposite side of Turn 10, where race winners have their names placed on the memorial.[7]

Layout history

Events

Current
Former

Lap records

As of February 2026, the fastest official race lap records at the St. Petersburg Street Circuit are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent
Grand Prix Circuit (2003–present): 1.800 mi (2.897 km)[8]
IndyCar1:00.6795Josef NewgardenDallara IR-182024 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
CART1:01.825Sébastien BourdaisLola B02/002003 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
LMP21:04.340[9]Ryan BriscoePorsche RS Spyder Evo2007 Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg
LMP11:04.725[9]Allan McNishAudi R10 TDI2007 Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg
Indy NXT1:04.7732[10]Dennis HaugerDallara IL-152025 Indy NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Indy Pro 20001:08.1141[11]Sting Ray RobbTatuus PM-182020 Indy Pro 2000 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
GT11:09.770[12]Oliver GavinChevrolet Corvette C6.R2008 Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg
LMP31:10.872[13]Jagger JonesDuqueine D-082024 St. Petersburg IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge round
USF20001:11.8416[14]Jack JeffersTatuus USF-222025 Foundation Building Materials Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
GT21:12.699[9]Tomáš EngeFerrari F430 GTC2007 Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg
GT31:13.642[15]Justin WetherillFerrari 488 GT3 Evo 20202022 St. Petersburg GT America round
Barber Pro1:13.930[16]Dan Di LeoReynard 98E2003 St. Petersburg Barber Pro round
Trans-Am1:14.634[17]Scott PruettJaguar XKR2003 St. Petersburg Trans-Am round
Porsche Carrera Cup1:15.016[18]Jeff KingsleyPorsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup2020 St. Petersburg Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA round
GT41:17.008[13]Jesse LazareMcLaren Artura GT42024 St. Petersburg IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge round
NASCAR Truck1:18.149Layne RiggsFord F-1502026 OnlyBulls Green Flag 150
SRO GT21:18.881[15]C.J. MosesAudi R8 LMS GT22022 St. Petersburg GT America round
GTS1:21.777[19]Peter CunninghamAcura TSX2012 St. Petersburg Pirelli World Challenge round
Mazda MX-5 Cup1:24.259[20]Jeremy FletcherMazda MX-5 (ND)2025 St. Petersburg Mazda MX-5 Cup round
TC1:25.101[19]Tristan HebertVolkswagen GLI2012 St. Petersburg Pirelli World Challenge round
Grand Prix Circuit (1996–1997): 1.690 mi (2.720 km)[8]
Trans-Am1:14.800[21]Tommy KendallFord Mustang1997 St. Petersburg Trans-Am round
Grand Prix Circuit (1986–1990): 2.000 mi (3.219 km)[8]
Trans-Am1:17.440[22]Scott PruettMerkur XR4Ti1987 St. Petersburg Trans-Am round
Grand Prix Circuit (1985): 2.000 mi (3.219 km)[8]
Can-Am1:23.020[23]Peter GreenfieldRalt RT41985 Can-Am Challenge at St. Petersburg
Trans-Am1:27.836[24]Willy T. RibbsMercury Capri1985 St. Petersburg Trans-Am round

References

  1. ↑ Koff, Stephen (July 26, 1991). "Council not ready to give race go-ahead". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "St. Petersburg Grand Prix: City has had false starts with racing". St. Petersburg Times. February 21, 2003. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Trans-am Driver Killed In Crash During St. Petersburg Event". Sun-Sentinel. November 9, 1987. Archived from the original on December 6, 2013. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Veteran driver Fitzgerald dies". Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania. November 9, 1987. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  5. ↑ "NASCAR releases 2026 schedule, adding Chicagoland and shifting All-Star to Dover". NASCAR. August 20, 2025. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  6. ↑ "LIST OF FIA LICENSED CIRCUITS UPDATED ON : 2026-03-31" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. March 31, 2026. Retrieved July 26, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Street in St. Petersburg named for Dan Wheldon". Fox News. AP. March 7, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "St. Petersburg - RacingCircuits.info". RacingCircuits.info. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 "American Le Mans Series St. Petersburg 2007". March 31, 2007. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  10. ↑ "2025 Indy NXT St. Petersburg Race Statistics". March 2, 2025. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  11. ↑ "2020 Indy Pro 2000 GP of St Petersburg Race 2 Lap Report" (PDF). October 25, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  12. ↑ "American Le Mans Series St. Petersburg 2008". April 6, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  13. 1 2 "2024 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg - IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge - Race 2 - Provisional Results (45 Minutes)" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). March 9, 2024. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  14. ↑ "2025 St. Petersburg Grand Prix - Foundation Building Materials Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (USF2000) - Race 2" (PDF). March 1, 2025. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  15. 1 2 "2022 Streets of St. Petersburg - GT America - Race 2 - Classification - Final" (PDF). February 26, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  16. ↑ "2003 Barber Dodge Pro Series Round 1: St.Petersburg, 22nd February". February 22, 2003. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  17. ↑ "PRUETT RUSTY NO MORE; WINS GRAND PRIX OF ST. PETERSBURG - Complete Results". February 23, 2003. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  18. ↑ "2020 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg - Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama - Race 2 Official Results (45 Minutes)" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). October 27, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  19. 1 2 "World Challenge: Aschenbach, Bell and Cooper win race one in St. Petersburg". March 24, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  20. ↑ "2025 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg - Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Michelin - Race 2 Provisional Results (45 Minutes)" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). March 2, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  21. ↑ "1997 Trans-Am St.Petersburg". February 23, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Trans-Am St. Petersburg 1987". November 8, 1987. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Can-Am St. Petersburg 1985". November 3, 1985. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Trans-Am St. Petersburg 1985". November 3, 1985. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
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