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3/20/06 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Only Two Weeks Away
On
March 31 – April 2, the “World’s Fastest Spring Break Party” returns to
downtown with the 2006 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Crews are
working to prepare the city streets (and a runway!) for racing. Here’s
some great information so that your raceday experience will exceed your
expectations:
Tickets - Tickets may be purchased
through the Honda
Grand Prix Box Office (727-824-7223 ext. 225) or tickets@gpstpete.com.
The Box Office
is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Tickets are also
available at Ticketmaster.
Parking
and Transportation - With more than 25,000 parking
spaces within a mile of the race track, city officials do not anticipate
any major problems with parking and transportation for the upcoming Honda
Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, March 31 to April 2. There are several
opportunities for parking and getting to the race:
Park Downtown: City transportation officials encourage visitors to
park downtown and enjoy the racing ambience in the downtown district. City
parking garages will charge a $10 all day event rate. Garages include South
Core (enter from First Ave. S. between Second and First Streets) or the
BayWalk Garage (enter from Second St. between Second and First Avenues N.)
Private lots, garages and on-street parking will also be available. Observe
all posted parking regulations.
Park & Ride Shuttle at Tropicana Field: There will be a free shuttle
from Tropicana Field parking lots to the race course. Parking at Tropicana
Field will be $10. The shuttle will pick passengers up outside the main
parking gate at 10th St. and Third Ave. S. and drop passengers at Fourth Ave. S. and Third St. There will be a two-block walk to the race entry gate. The
shuttle will operate Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday
from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Take the Looper: The Looper Downtown Trolley will be operational
throughout Grand Prix weekend, and will be free. The Looper provides
circulatory service between the citys parking facilities, hotels and
attractions. It operates from 10 a.m. to midnight (Friday and Saturday) and
to 10 p.m. on Sunday, after the race. The closest Looper stops to the race
course will be at Third St. and Fourth Ave. S.
Entry Gates: There will be three entry gates to the race course -
all on First St. - at First Ave. S., Fourth Ave. S. and Fifth Ave. S.
Disabled Parking: Numerous disabled parking spaces at all city garages
will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Looper and some
shuttle buses are wheelchair accessible.
Alternative Transportation: Bicycle racks will be available
outside each entry gate. There will be taxi stands established on Fourth Ave. S. between Second and Third Streets, and on First Ave. S. between First and
Second Streets.
Official Schedule of
Events
Thursday - March 30
·
Track
Closed to Public
·
12:30
noon - 5:30 pm - 2-Seater and Pace Car Rides
"Green Flag" Friday - March 31
·
8:00
am Gates Open
·
8:30
SCCA Practice 8:30 - 10:00
·
10:20
IndyCar Series Practice (ALL CARS) 10:20 - 12:20
·
12:20
pm Klein Tools Air Show 12:20 - 12:40
·
12:55
Indy Pro Series Practice 12:55 - 1:40
·
2:00
IndyCar Series Practice Group 1 2:00 - 2:30
·
2:40
IndyCar Series Practice Group 2 2:40 - 3:10
·
3:30
Indy Pro Series Practice 3:30 - 4:00
·
4:15
SCCA Practice 4:15 - 5:45
·
7:00
Garage Area Closed
Saturday - April 1
·
8:00
am Gates Open
·
8:30
Indy Pro Series Qualifications (Saturday Race) 8:30 - 9:00
·
9:15
IndyCar Series Practice Group 1 9:15 - 9:45
·
9:55
IndyCar Series Practice Group 2 9:55 - 10:25
·
10:40 Indy
Pro Series Qualifications (Sunday Race) 10:40 - 11:25
·
11:00
SCCA Autograph Session - SCCA Paddock
·
11:40
Klein Tools Air Show 11:40 - 12:00
·
12:10
pm SCCA Qualifications 12:10 - 1:25
·
1:45
IndyCar Series Qualifying 1:45 - 3:15 **
·
3:15
Indy Pro Series Pre-Race Festivities
·
3:30 INDY PRO
SERIES Race - 40 Laps
·
4:45
SCCA
SPEED WORLD CHALLENGE GT Race
·
5:00
IndyCar Series Autograph Session (ALL
DRIVERS!) - BrightHouse Networks SpeedZone
·
7:00
Garage Area Closed
** At the conclusion of single-lap
qualifying, the Firestone Fast Six features the fastest six
cars in a 10-minute, European-style shootout to determine the order of the
first three rows in Sunday's Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
Sunday - April 2
·
8:00
am Gates Open
·
8:30
Indy Pro Series Warm-Up 8:30 - 8:40
·
10:15
IndyCar Series Warm-Up 10:15 - 10:45
·
11:00 Indy
Pro Series Pre-Race Festivities
·
11:30 INDY PRO
SERIES Race - 40 Laps
·
12:45 pm SCCA SPEED WORLD
CHALLENGE TOURING Race
·
2:00
Klein Tools Air Show 2:00 - 2:20
·
3:00
Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Pre-Race Show
·
3:45
2006 HONDA GRAND PRIX OF ST. PETERSBURG - IndyCar Series (Live on ESPN)
·
5:45
XM Satellite Radio Concert - Honda Plaza
Other
Events
The popular
Pit Crew Challenge is scheduled for March 22 at 11:30 a.m.
A
tribute to racing legend A.J. Foyt will be held March 29 (location to be
announced).
AUTOSPORT
RADIO - LIVE @ DINO’S. Dino’s Jazz Piano Bar & Grille, 16 2nd St. N. March 29, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Live stream of the Autosport Show. Call
727-824-7223 or 727-896-DINO.
Tastings
wine bar will host the Andretti Winery wine tasting March 29 at 149 1st
Ave. N. 6 to 8 p.m. $10. http://www.awineexperience.com or
727-894-2255.
The
popular First Friday event is being bumped up one week to coincide with the
racing festivities. The free Get Down Town/Fast Friday Street Party will take place
3/31on Central Ave. from 2nd to 3rd St. 5:30 to 10 p.m. Live music by On Que Players.
Links
Downtown Map
Shopping
Dining
Accommodations
Make
sure to check the city’s Grand Prix website http://www.stpete.org/grandprix
as the event approaches for the most up-to-date information.
Read
Past Weekly Updates
Send Us Your Comments on the Web Site
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