Streets of St. Petersburg -
IndyCar & NASCAR RaceWeather Forecast
IndyCar & NASCAR Forecast Discussion
Forecast will be updated on Feb 23, 2026
2026 Streets of St. Petersburg: On-Track Event Schedule
Fri Feb 27
8:00 AM - USF2000 Practice
8:55 AM – MX-5 Cup Practice
10:00 AM - USF2000 Qualifying
10:50 AM – MX-5 Cup Qualifying
11:30 AM - USF2000 Race 1 (USF Pro Championships YouTube Channel)
12:30 PM – INDY NXT Practice (FS2)
1:30 PM – INDYCAR Practice (FS2)
4:00 PM – Truck Series Practice (FS1)
5:05 PM – Truck Series Qualifying (FS1)
Sat Feb 28
7:30 AM – MX-5 Cup Race (IMSA.tv)
8:30 AM – INDY NXT Practice (FS2)
9:30 AM – INDYCAR Practice (FS1)
12 noon – Truck Series Race (FOX)
3:30 PM – INDY NXT Qualifying (FS2)
4:30 PM – INDYCAR Qualifying (FS2)
Sun Mar 1
9:00 AM – INDYCAR warmup (FS1)
10:00 AM – INDY NXT race (FS1)
12 noon – INDYCAR race (FOX)
3:00 PM – USF2000 Race 2 (USF Pro Championships YouTube Channel)
More about the Streets of St. Petersburg
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg serves as IndyCar’s traditional season opener and one of the most distinctive street circuits in North America. The 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary course weaves through downtown St. Petersburg and incorporates a runway at Albert Whitted Airport, creating a hybrid street-and-airfield layout that rewards precision under braking and traction on corner exit.
The lap begins on the airport runway frontstretch, one of the longest full-throttle sections on the calendar, before a heavy braking zone into Turn 1 — a frequent incident hotspot due to tight confines and cold tires at the start. The circuit then snakes through city streets, including a technical stadium complex and multiple 90-degree corners, before returning to Bayshore Drive for high-speed sections and overtaking opportunities into heavy braking zones.
While racing in St. Petersburg dates back to 1985, the modern IndyCar era began in 2003, when the event was revived using the airport runway configuration. Since then, it has become a cornerstone of the IndyCar calendar, valued for strong attendance, scenic waterfront views, and its role as an early benchmark for team performance and street-course setups.
From chaotic Lap 1 incidents to strategic fuel races, St. Pete routinely sets the tone for the championship — demanding patience, brake management, and street-course discipline right out of the gate.
To learn about sponsorship opportunities in IndyCar with Juncos Hollinger Racing on the Streets of St. Petersburg, visit EC Sports Management. Click here to contact their sales team.