Mar04

CART kicks off 2003 in St Pete

Map of proposed St Petersburg layout

The St Petersburg combined street and airfield course will kick off the 2003 CART championship on American soil for the first time since 2000, it has been announced, after the final go-ahead was given by city and series officials. The inaugural Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is scheduled for February 21-23, 2003.

"I am thrilled to hear that a sanctioning agreement between CART and the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has been approved,” said St. Petersburg mayor Rick Baker. “This confirms that the best open wheel race drivers in the world will be running in downtown St. Petersburg next February. The city looks forward to welcoming event participants and patrons in our city and the worldwide television audience that will be watching the event."

CART is hoping the timetabling of the event will make it a great success, helping it tap into a major new market for auto racing in the southeastern States.

“It has been no secret that CART and Dover Downs Entertainment have been extremely interested in having a Champ Car race in St. Petersburg, and it is truly a pleasure that we are able to make this announcement today,” said CART president, Chris Pook.

The agreement between CART and Dover Downs Entertainment calls for Champ Cars to be racing in St. Petersburg for up to a 12-year term - a seven-year contract with a five-year option.

The race will be run on a temporary circuit that will incorporate some of the streets of downtown St. Petersburg around the Bayfront Center as well as a portion of the Albert Whitted Airport.

Dover Downs' Grand Prix Association of Long Beach received unanimous approval earlier this year from the St. Petersburg City Council to operate the temporary event.

“The St. Petersburg course has all of the characteristics that are associated with memorable street circuits, including the waterfront, wide open spaces on the airport, as well as the downtown setting,” said Grand Prix of St. Petersburg president and CEO, Jim Michaelian. “It will be colorful, competitive, safe and exciting for all the racing fans visiting from the southeastern United States.”


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