Firestone Grand Prix Events Preview 2/26/2025
Season 2, Episode 462, Feb 26, 02:35 PM
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The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding (Feb. 28 - March 2) is revving up for a weekend of exciting events. A preview of the events, kicking off 2/26 with Nikita Johnson at O'Maddy's in Gulfport and the 2/27 festival and run in North Straub Park 2/27, then on to the races with the big day March 2. Stick around after the racing action on Saturday, March 1st for live music from Pitbull Toddler from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. ET on stage at the Festival Plaza outside the Duke Energy Center for Arts (Mahaffey Theater) brought to you by Michelob Ultra and 102.5 The Bone! A Saturday Grand Prix ticket provides admission (starting at $45) available at gpstpete.com. If you're not already at the track, you must arrive by 6:15 p.m. ET through Gate 5 to get live music access.
GRAND MARSHALS ANNOUNCED Two members of the award-winning band Shinedown will proclaim the most famous words in motorsports "Drivers, start your engines!" for the 100-lap race on Sunday as the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES SEASON gets under way. Officials from the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding are proud to announce Zach Myers and Barry Kerch to serve in this honorary role as grand marshals. Shinedown is one of rock’s most powerful and record-breaking bands from Jacksonville, Fla., known for its motivational and storytelling lyrics. Shinedown holds the record for the most No. 1 singles on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart with 19. In addition, the band was also ranked No. 1 by Billboard on its Greatest of All Time Mainstreams Rock Artists chart. Shinedown recently released two singles “Three Six Five” and “Dance, Kid, Dance” on January 24. The band hits the road starting in April for its two-leg American “Dance, Kid, Dance Tour.”
NEWS UPDATE In honor of the late Dan Wheldon’s victory in the inaugural Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding race on April 3, 2005, Susie Wheldon (Dan’s wife) and Sebastian Wheldon (Dan and Susie’s son) have accepted invitations to take part in ceremonial pre-race roles for the 2025 race. Oliver Wheldon, Dan and Susie’s younger son, will also join them on race day. Dan’s accomplishments are remembered with permanent landmarks on the race site. A stretch of the St. Petersburg street circuit is known as “Dan Wheldon Way” and a winners monument stands near the course behind the Turn 10 Grandstand in honor of the popular winner and local resident.
As another NTT INDYCAR SERIES season gets under way on the downtown streets of St. Petersburg on Sunday, March 2, Sebastian, a rising open-wheel racing star of the sport in his own right, will drive one of the Honda Civic Type R pace cars ahead of the INDYCAR drivers. After Sebastian enters pitlane as the cars get into race formation, Susie will wave the green flag over the field marking the start of the 100-lap race and 2025 season.
“St. Petersburg was Dan’s adopted hometown and remains home for the boys and I. For him to win the inaugural race here in 2005 was something special. What made it even more special was that his teammates, TK (Tony Kanaan), Dario (Franchitti) and Bryan (Herta), followed him across the finish line in an all Andretti 1, 2, 3, 4 podium sweep!” said Susie Wheldon. “To be here with Sebastian and Oliver 20 years later - and for Sebastian to be driving a pace car in the parade lap - is really a full circle moment. And I am honored to wave the green flag for the start of the race. I have to thank Kim (Green) and Kevin (Savoree) and the entire IndyCar family for always making the boys and I feel supported. We are looking forward to an exciting race weekend.”
#grandprix #nanettewiser #events #firestonegrandprix #danwheldon #racecars #Indy #stpetersburg #cityofstpete #downtownstpete #stpete #stpetefl #tampabay #radio #radiostpete #grandprixevents
GRAND MARSHALS ANNOUNCED Two members of the award-winning band Shinedown will proclaim the most famous words in motorsports "Drivers, start your engines!" for the 100-lap race on Sunday as the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES SEASON gets under way. Officials from the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding are proud to announce Zach Myers and Barry Kerch to serve in this honorary role as grand marshals. Shinedown is one of rock’s most powerful and record-breaking bands from Jacksonville, Fla., known for its motivational and storytelling lyrics. Shinedown holds the record for the most No. 1 singles on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart with 19. In addition, the band was also ranked No. 1 by Billboard on its Greatest of All Time Mainstreams Rock Artists chart. Shinedown recently released two singles “Three Six Five” and “Dance, Kid, Dance” on January 24. The band hits the road starting in April for its two-leg American “Dance, Kid, Dance Tour.”
NEWS UPDATE In honor of the late Dan Wheldon’s victory in the inaugural Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding race on April 3, 2005, Susie Wheldon (Dan’s wife) and Sebastian Wheldon (Dan and Susie’s son) have accepted invitations to take part in ceremonial pre-race roles for the 2025 race. Oliver Wheldon, Dan and Susie’s younger son, will also join them on race day. Dan’s accomplishments are remembered with permanent landmarks on the race site. A stretch of the St. Petersburg street circuit is known as “Dan Wheldon Way” and a winners monument stands near the course behind the Turn 10 Grandstand in honor of the popular winner and local resident.
As another NTT INDYCAR SERIES season gets under way on the downtown streets of St. Petersburg on Sunday, March 2, Sebastian, a rising open-wheel racing star of the sport in his own right, will drive one of the Honda Civic Type R pace cars ahead of the INDYCAR drivers. After Sebastian enters pitlane as the cars get into race formation, Susie will wave the green flag over the field marking the start of the 100-lap race and 2025 season.
“St. Petersburg was Dan’s adopted hometown and remains home for the boys and I. For him to win the inaugural race here in 2005 was something special. What made it even more special was that his teammates, TK (Tony Kanaan), Dario (Franchitti) and Bryan (Herta), followed him across the finish line in an all Andretti 1, 2, 3, 4 podium sweep!” said Susie Wheldon. “To be here with Sebastian and Oliver 20 years later - and for Sebastian to be driving a pace car in the parade lap - is really a full circle moment. And I am honored to wave the green flag for the start of the race. I have to thank Kim (Green) and Kevin (Savoree) and the entire IndyCar family for always making the boys and I feel supported. We are looking forward to an exciting race weekend.”
#grandprix #nanettewiser #events #firestonegrandprix #danwheldon #racecars #Indy #stpetersburg #cityofstpete #downtownstpete #stpete #stpetefl #tampabay #radio #radiostpete #grandprixevents