St. Petersburg Track Construction Begins

The countdown to the green flag is on. Earlier today, organizers of the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg were joined by IZOD IndyCar Series driver Sebastien Bourdais to usher in the first blocks of the 1.8 mile, 14-turn street course.

This year will mark the third consecutive season that the event will serve as the opening race for the IZOD IndyCar Series, which features the fastest, most versatile race cars and drivers in the world.

The race track for the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is built by about 250 construction workers and takes 35 days to build – a process that becomes more efficient year over year. More than 20,000 feet of steel-reinforced concrete blocks, 44,000 feet of chain-link fencing and over 12,000 tires are used in the construction of the race track.

The track also features a front straight that is 2,350 feet long, five race car paddocks and eight grandstands for spectators.

“We are excited to begin the track build process as we prepare to host the season-opening IZOD IndyCar Series race," said Tim Ramsberger, President of the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. “We look forward to showcasing our beautiful waterfront and all that St. Petersburg has to offer, through the numerous visitors that attend and a world-wide viewing audience that spans over 200 countries."