Firestone Extends Sponsorship of St. Petersburg IndyCar Race

The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding has earned a special place on the NTT IndyCar Series schedule.

The season opener features sun-drenched, high-speed Indy cars on the streets of this beautiful city nestled between Florida’s Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico and a festival atmosphere.

It’s a spectacular backdrop for NBC Sports, giving Florida’s tourism community valuable exposure on a national network.

In many ways, it has become IndyCar’s version of “Spring Break.”

According to St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, the annual IndyCar weekend has an economic impact of at least $50 million.

“These are conservative, pre-pandemic levels,” Mayor Wells said at Thursday’s annual welcome breakfast.

Bridgestone Americas, the company that makes Firestone tires, recognizes this. On Thursday morning, he announced a contract extension with Green Savoree St. Petersburg, LLC that maintains the Firestone Grand Prix of St.

“It is an honor for our team to host this event in the city of St. Petersburg every year and to do so with the unparalleled support of an iconic brand like Firestone spanning 19 years. Lisa (Boggs) and her team continue to help us grow and elevate the St. Petersburg Firestone Grand Prix presented by RP Funding

the NTT IndyCar Series as a world-class sport,” said Kim Green, co-owner, president and CEO of Green Savoree Racing Promotions, promoter of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. “Year after year Firestone delivers an outstanding racing lineup of drivers who produce terrific competition on the track for our fans to enjoy.”

As the streets of St. Petersburg are set to come alive as the city is set to host the 2019 NTT IndyCar Series^u Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, his sponsorship is secured for three more events.

Firestone has been a partner of the event since 2005 and then stepped up its commitment to become the naming rights partner of this NTT IndyCar Series event in 2014.

“We are proud to continue our partnership with Green Savoree Racing Promotions to support a marquee event in a community that shares our passion for IndyCar racing,” said Lisa Boggs, Director of Motorsports at Bridgestone Americas. “This year’s race marks the Firestone brand’s tenth year as a franchise sponsor and we are honored to extend this relationship through 2025.”

This is Firestone’s 24th consecutive year as the sole tire supplier to the NTT IndyCar Series as the season kicks off this weekend for the 13th time on the streets of downtown St. Petersburg.

The race continues to be the ideal setting for the brand to engage racing fans and consumers while showcasing its tire technology. In 2023, starting with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding, NTT IndyCar Series cars will race on guayule natural rubber, with a green sidewall, as an alternative tire on all road courses.

In addition, INDYCAR and Green Savoree St. Petersburg, LLC, the company that owns and operates the Firestone Grand Prix of St. This ensures the continuation of NTT IndyCar Series races on the streets of St. Petersburg.

“The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding has proven to be an excellent season opener for the NTT IndyCar Series season,” said Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO. Mark Miles. “We are delighted to agree a multi-year extension as we commit to what has become a mainstay in our calendar. The growing crowd and television audience and continued support from Firestone are important signs of the event’s strength and future.

“We look forward to the city of St. Petersburg providing the perfect showcase for the stars of the NTT IndyCar Series for years to come.”

Deep roots in the Tampa Bay area

Firestone’s roots run deep in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area.

For nearly 100 years, Firestone Complete Auto Care (FCAC) has been a trusted tire and auto service provider for area drivers. Its location on Kennedy Avenue in downtown Tampa, just a few miles from where the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding will be held, first opened in 1933 and is FCAC’s largest location still operating in the US.

FCAC is part of Bridgestone Retail Operations, which owns and operates more than 2,200 tire and vehicle service locations nationwide.

Firestone is the official tire of the NTT IndyCar Series for the 2025 season.

The Firestone Race Tire Engineering team develops race tire specifications to meet the demands of each unique oval, track and road course in the NTT IndyCar Series program. These efforts in support of the world’s most versatile racing series continue to serve as the ultimate proving ground for tire technology that everyday drivers can find in Firestone passenger tires in their personal vehicles.

The 2023 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding will run March 3-5.