City of St. Petersburg Marks Start of Firestone Grand Prix Weekend with Flag Raising

City of St. Petersburg Marks Start of Firestone Grand Prix Weekend with Flag Raising

Feb. 25, 2026 - Mayor Kenneth T. Welch and the City of St. Petersburg will hold a flag-raising ceremony to kick off the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, in front of City Hall (175 5th St. N). This annual event is open to the public.

Mayor Welch will be joined by St. Petersburg City Council Chair Lisset Hanewicz, INDYCAR President Doug Boles, and race co-owners Kim Green and Kevin Savoree. The flag raising will also feature appearances by last year's Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg winner, Alex Palou, local INDY NXT by Firestone driver Nikita Johnson, and local INDY NXT by Firestone driver Ryan Leach.

About the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

Now in its 22nd year, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is slated for Feb. 27 - Mar. 1, 2026. The race is a 1.8-mile, 14-turn waterfront circuit that includes a combination of adjacent downtown streets circling Pioneer Park, the Duke Energy Center for the Arts - Mahaffey Theater, and The Dali Museum, and extending onto the runways at Albert Whitted Airport, which overlook Tampa Bay and picturesque St. Petersburg Harbor and Marina. For the first time in its history, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will battle on a street course as part of Saturday's racing lineup. More information at https://www.gpstpete.com.