Prep Work Begins for Honda Grand Prix; Events Schedule Announced

ST. PETERSBURG - Work gets under way today to transform downtown St. Petersburg's roads into a raceway for the upcoming Honda Grand Prix, which is March 25-27.

The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg kicks off a 17-race IndyCar circuit that takes cars and drivers all over the United States and Canada with stops in Sao Paulo and Japan before winding up the season in October.

In St. Petersburg, workers have started installing 20,000 feet of steel-reinforced concrete barriers and 44,000 feet of chain-link fence. Crews then will do the striping and other work to turn 1.8 miles into a race course for IndyCar drivers.

Affected roads are Bayshore Drive S.E. at First Ave. S.E. and eastbound Fifth Ave. S./Dali Boulevard at First St. S. Travel will be limited to local traffic.

Phase two construction, slated to begin Monday, Feb. 21, will build Pit Lane and spectator seating in Albert Whitted Park.

Early road closures will not affect access for airport or FAA officials, employees of Progress Energy Center for the Arts/Mahaffey Theater or the Dali Museum.

Albert Whitted Park will remain closed to all public use, including pedestrian and bicycle traffic, from Thursday, February 10 until Friday, April 8.  Everyone is advised to obey posted warning signs and refrain from entering closed construction areas.

The final construction phase, slated to begin Thursday, March 3, will install the barrier system along First St. S., moving north to Pioneer Park, Bayfront Towers, and the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. Temporary openings will allow for limited traffic flow and scheduled events at Al Lang Stadium, the Progress Energy Center for the Arts/Mahaffey Theater, Dali Museum, as well as for patrons of the Hilton Hotel.

Additional road closures will begin Saturday, March 19, with any other closures occurring by Wednesday, March 23. Streets are expected to reopen to traffic by Tuesday, March 29.

Here is the schedule of race events, which will be updated closer to race day.

Thursday, March 24

Green Flag VIP Luncheon, by invitation only
Illuminated Night Parade and Fireworks

Friday, March 25

IZOD IndyCar Series practice
Firestone Indy Lights practice
Star Mazda practice
USF2000 practice
World Challenge practice / qualifying
HGPSP 5K with Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation
 

Saturday, March 26

IZOD IndyCar Series practice / qualifying
Firestone Indy Lights practice / qualifying
Star Mazda qualifying
USF2000 qualifying / race #1
World Challenge race #1
Autograph Session

Sunday, March 27

Firestone Indy Lights warm-up / race
IZOD IndyCar Series warm-up / Honda Indy St. Pete (race)
Star Mazda race
USF2000 race #2
World Challenge race #2