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[/media-credit]Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg to feature record number of races in 2012 Ticket holders have access to 10 races including exotic car series and INDYCAR season starter
February 24, 2012 (St. Petersburg, FL) – Fans attending the Honda Grand Prix of St Petersburg, March 23-25, will see a lot of green and checkered flags. Event organizers announce today that the weekend race will feature 10 races – a record for the event that is only in its eighth year. The on-track schedule for the Honda Grand Prix includes the much-anticipated season starter of the IZOD IndyCar Series and will add a new race to this year’s line-up: the Ferrari Challenge.
The event will also feature the Mazda Road to Indy, INDYCAR’s official developmental ladder system for drivers and teams seeking to compete in the IZOD IndyCar Series, which allows fans to see the future leaders of the sport along with the current champions Dario Franchitti, Will Power, Tony Kanaan and former St. Pete winners Helio Castroneves, Graham Rahal and Ryan Briscoe. The ladder system includes Firestone Indy Lights, Star Mazda Championship and the USF2000 National Championship. The Pirelli World Challenge rounds out the competition with a double-header weekend featuring the Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg and three returning classes of racing, GT, GTS and Touring Car, along with the introduction of the new Touring Car B-Spec class.
“Race fans in St. Petersburg expect the best and so we’ve been hard at work securing the most entertaining lineup in racing,” said Tim Ramsberger, Vice President and General Manager for the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. “Staging 10 races is a record high for us and we’re excited to be bringing our fans the best on-track schedule yet. This year, our event will deliver the perfect mix of superstar drivers, fierce competitors and promising young talent, you will not want to miss it.”
On-track schedule:
Friday, March 23 Saturday, March 24 Sunday, March 25
IZOD IndyCar Series practice IZOD IndyCar Series practice, qualifying IZOD IndyCar Series warm-up, race
Firestone Indy Lights practice Firestone Indy Lights qualifying, race Pirelli World Challenge race #2
Star Mazda Series practice, qualifying Pirelli World Challenge qualifying, race #1 Star Mazda race #2
USF2000 practice, qualifying Star Mazda Series race #1 USF2000 race #2
Pirelli World Challenge practice USF2000 race #1 Ferrari Challenge warm-up, race #2
Ferrari Challenge practice, qualifying #1 Ferrari Challenge race #1, qualifying #2
Tickets to the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.gpstpete.com or by phone at 1-877-283-5385.
About the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg takes place March 23-25, 2012 and is run on a 1.8-mile, 14-turn waterfront circuit that includes a combination of adjacent downtown streets circling Pioneer Park, the Progress Energy Center for the Arts, the Salvador Dali Museum and extending onto the runways at Albert Whitted Airport, which overlook the Tampa Bay and picturesque St. Petersburg Harbor and Marina. To learn more about the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, visit www.gpstpete.com. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GPSTPETE or Twitter via @GPSTPETE.
About the MAZDA Road to Indy
The Mazda Road to Indy is INDYCAR’s official developmental ladder system for drivers and teams seeking to compete in the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500. Made up of Firestone Indy Lights, the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear and the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda, the system is designed to create a defined career path for young, career-minded racers and teach them the skills needed to advance to the highest level of open-wheel racing on and off the track. In 2012, all three series that make up the Mazda Road to Indy program will join the IZOD IndyCar Series at various events. For more information on the Mazda Road to Indy, visit www.indycar.com.
About the Pirelli World Challenge Championships
Entering its 23rd consecutive season, the Pirelli World Challenge is one of North America’s top production car-based racing championships. Divided into four separate categories (Pirelli World Challenge GT, Pirelli World Challenge GTS, Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car, and Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car B-Spec), races feature thrilling standing starts, adrenaline filled door-to-door action and world-class drivers. The Pirelli World Challenge features cars from the world’s most popular manufacturers – race-prepped versions of the cars driven on the streets. Sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing, the series races at North America’s premier road and temporary street courses. Visit, www.world-challenge.com.
About the Ferrari Challenge
The Ferrari Challenge expanded to North America in 1994 with a full season of races and has been run every year since, making it the longest-running series of its type in North America. The Ferrari Challenge has given many Ferrari owners the opportunity to enjoy the continent’s finest tracks while sharing both competition and the social aspects of the series with fellow Ferrari owners. The Challenge has also given Ferrari enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy watching Ferraris in their natural environment — the race track. Visit, www.ferrarichallenge.com.
