St. Petersburg Street Circuit
Street courses used by motor races in downtown St. Petersburg, U.S.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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).
Grand Prix Circuit (2003–present) | |
| Location | St. Petersburg, Florida, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 27°45′59″N 82°37′45″W |
| FIA Grade | 2 |
| Opened | 1985 |
| Major events | Current: 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) |
| Website | https://gpstpete.com/ |
| Grand Prix Circuit (2003–present) | |
| Length | 1.800 mi (2.897 km) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Race lap record | 1:00.6795 ( Josef Newgarden, Dallara IR-18, 2024, IndyCar) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1996–1997) | |
| Length | 1.690 mi (2.720 km) |
| Turns | 8 |
| Race lap record | 1:14.800 ( Tommy Kendall, Ford Mustang, 1997, Trans-Am) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1986–1990) | |
| Length | 2.000 mi (3.219 km) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Race lap record | 1:17.440 ( Scott Pruett, Merkur XR4Ti, 1987, Trans-Am) |
| Original Grand Prix Circuit (1985) | |
| Length | 2.000 mi (3.219 km) |
| Turns | 9 |
| Race lap record | 1:23.020 ( Peter Greenfield, Ralt RT4, 1985, Can-Am) |
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 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
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
Grand Prix Circuit (1986–1990)
Grand Prix Circuit (1996–1997)
Grand Prix Circuit (2003–present)
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Events
- Current
- February: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series OnlyBulls Green Flag 150
- March: IndyCar Series Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Indy NXT, USF2000 Championship, Mazda MX-5 Cup
- Former
- American Le Mans Series
- Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg (2007–2009)
- Atlantic Championship Series (1985–1990)
- Barber Pro Series (1996–1997, 2003)
- Can-Am (1985)
- GT America Series (2022–2023)
- GT4 America Series (2019)
- IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge (2024)
- Pirelli World Challenge (1990, 1996–1997, 2005–2006, 2010–2018)
- Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA (2020)
- SCCA Formula Super Vee (1986–1990)
- SCCA RaceTruck Challenge (1987–1990)
- Stadium Super Trucks (2014–2017, 2021)
- Trans-Am Series (1985–1991, 1996–1997, 2003)
- USF Pro 2000 Championship (2010–2025)
Lap records
As of February 2026, the fastest official race lap records at the St. Petersburg Street Circuit are listed as:
