IndyCar drivers test Grand Prix track in downtown St. Pete Friday

Firestone Grand Prix weekend

Josh Cascio reports.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - After raising the flag over St. Petersburg Thursday, drivers tested out the downtown track Friday afternoon – The city is in full-on race mode as events get underway for the 18th annual Firestone Grand Prix.

It's the first time in two years the Grand Prix will take place in front of a full crowd, after two years of cancellations and schedule changes due to the pandemic. The weekend will feature 10 races taking the green flag across six different racing series.

Spectators and passersby should expect loud cars and tight corners as the Indy Cars hit the course and get a feel for the turns and straightaways.

"It is so exciting, the speed, the crowd, the fans love to see these cars going so fast on the streets of St. Petersburg," said Joe Collins a fan from Sarasota.

Fan Andrew Carlson added, "People are nice, the locations nice, the weathers nice and the racing nice."

But it's not so nice, for some nearby businesses like Pet Works. Owner Robert Gerrity calls the event "detrimental to business" because it cuts off access to his regulars.

IndyCar driver Dalton Kellett in St. Petersburg for race weekend

Matthew McClellan reports

"The week before and after while they're taking the barricades down, we do see a decline in business," said Gerrity.

Meanwhile, St. Petersburg police showed off new-anti drone technology ahead of the races. The race area is a no-fly zone. Using sophisticated technology, officers can track any drones in the sky and pinpoint the pilot.

The chief said this should help make the event safer.

"Just imagine if a drone were to fly over the race and hit one of these race cars, what damage it would cause to the driver, spectator, and everyone at the event," Chief Anthony Holloway said.

Firestone Grand Prix kicks off tourism rebound

The Firestone Grand Prix is expected to bring hundreds of thousands of people to downtown St. Pete who spend millions of dollars.

MORE: St. Petersburg's new mayor raises Grand Prix flag ahead of race weekend

The track build began in late January, laying out the 14-turn temporary circuit and festival grounds. The project was highlighted by more than 20 million pounds of concrete blocks being moved into place, grandstands and hospitality suites erected, and five bridges placed.

The temporary circuit is a 1.8-mile, 14-turn configuration using the streets circling Pioneer Park, the Duke Energy Center for the Arts, The Dali Museum and extending onto the runways at Albert Whitted Airport, which overlooks the waterfront of Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg Harbor and Marina.