Event Will Serve as the 2020 INDYCAR Finale
ST PETERSBURG, Fla. (May 13, 2020) – The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has been rescheduled to October 23-25, 2020, officials from the City of St. Petersburg, Green Savoree St. Petersburg, LLC (GSSP) and INDYCAR confirmed today. The event will now feature the crowning of the 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion on Sunday, Oct. 25 since the original March 13th-15th weekend was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The City of St. Petersburg stands ready to welcome back the fans of INDYCAR, drivers, teams, and sponsors in October,” said City of St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. “I want to thank our partners at Green Savoree Racing Promotions for believing in this race and giving the residents of the Sunshine City something to look forward to. I am confident that the race will occur in a manner that puts public health at the forefront."
“We greatly appreciate the efforts of Green Savoree Racing Promotions, INDYCAR, Mayor Kriseman and the City of St. Petersburg to find a new date for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg,” said Lisa Boggs, director of motorsports, Bridgestone Americas, with its Firestone brand as the event’s title sponsor. “Coming back to the streets of St. Pete to close the 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season is a great way to thank the incredible fans in this area for their support. While we couldn’t kick off the season with them as planned, we now look forward to crowning the 2020 INDYCAR Champion together in October.”
“The streets of St. Petersburg will make for a fitting and action-packed finale in a venue and city that our entire INDYCAR community holds dear,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “We extend our thanks and gratitude to Mayor Kriseman, Green Savoree and Firestone for working with us to find a new date for the event. It’s going to be a fantastic weekend of INDYCAR action, and I know our drivers will have race day in St. Pete circled on their calendars.”
This will be the first time the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will serve as the exciting series finale, as the event traditionally has started the INDYCAR season.
“Having a rescheduled date for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is a very positive development. This could only happen because of our partners’ commitment and support at the City of St. Petersburg, INDYCAR and Firestone,” said Kim Green, co-owner, chairman and CEO of GSSP, organizers of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. “We hope this offers both Floridians and our race fans something to look forward to later this year as we navigate through these unprecedented times for us all.”
Previously purchased tickets to the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will be valid on the corresponding days of the postponed event. Ticket purchasers on file will receive instructions via email. Additional event information and customer FAQs will be posted at gpstpete.com.
“Thank you to our fans for their patience and understanding as we’ve worked through this process with Mayor Kriseman, City Council, the City of St. Petersburg’s event team, INDYCAR and Firestone,” said Kevin Savoree, co-owner, president and COO of GSSP. “It’s been a terrific team effort by all, and we appreciate the opportunity to host the event again this fall in one of the most fantastic settings in downtown St. Petersburg.”
Additionally, the MBA 5K Run on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg track, originally set for Friday, March 13, is rescheduled to Friday, Oct. 23. Previously purchased registrations will be valid and honored on the new date. Additional information will be released soon on gpstpete5k.com to confirm the status of an existing registration or for new sign ups.
The rescheduled event now set for October 23-25, 2020 will be subject to the ongoing guidance and mandates of national, state and local authorities regarding public gatherings. The health and safety of all associated with this event will remain the priority of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
