Now, I'm a race car enthusiast and have enjoyed the whole gamut from hometown stockcar racing and NASCAR (just watched the Daytona 500), to the Grand Prix as they zip all around town and the infamous Indy cars.
Something about the roar of the engines and that whish, whish, whish as they fly by the stands at speeds I can't even imagine.
On April 3rd, in the very pretty city of St. Petersburg, which is part of the Bay area (Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater), the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg - http://www.gpstpete.com/home.cfm will host the third race of the 2005 IndyCar series.
The race will mark the first time it's been run on a non-oval course. The 1.8 mile track has fourteen turns and incorporates part of the runway from nearby Albert Whitted airport. This combo of street and airport should make for a very interesting mix to the race.
If you've ever visited St. Pete, you know this is a lovely city banked by Tampa Bay on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. The beaches in St. Pete and Treasure Island are some of the most beautiful you can imagine and are about a 15-20 minute drive from the track.
The Pier, - http://www.stpete-pier.com/index.php which has been a landmark in the city since as far back as I can remember, houses an aquarium, gift shops, and numerous restaurants and bars, is about 10-15 minutes away.
BayWalk - http://www.baywalkstpete.com/ is also nearby and within walking (or shuttle) distance from the Pier and houses a theater, shops, bars and restaurants. I can recommend Marino's for great food and fantastic atmosphere. There are museums are nearby, too.
There are many things to do and see in St. Petersburg while you're getting ready for race day!
There are many hotels located in St. Petersburg and Treasure Island, so finding accommodations should not be difficult but I would suggest if you plan to come down for the race, you start making your reservations now.
Here is a link - http://www.floridasbeach.com/ that you might find helpful. It has lots of useful information on lodging, dining and attractions.
If you have the time and are a racing fan, come on down and enjoy this race that is sure to get your motor running! Even if you aren't a racing fan, there's plenty to do and fun to be had.
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