ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Fans from all over the country poured in early to secure a prime viewing spot for Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Officials expected Sunday to be the busiest and most crowded with a full lineup of heart-pounding races.

“I just love the racing, love the culture, love the city, yup, I love the Indycar,” Jasper Chapman of Tennessee said.

The transformation of St. Pete to undertake such a massive event draws fans in, too. This family-friendly event is more than just a race culture, there’s plenty to see, eat, drink and play.

“We just came to hang out and wander around and see all the people and eat some junk food and have a good time,” James Norton of Gulfport said.

That’s what officials banked on for this 21st Firestone Grand Prix. Teams worked feverishly to not skip a beat for fans, following a severe hurricane season in 2024 and continued clean-up efforts.

“Obviously you had a pretty ugly fall for St. Petersburg, two big storms,” said event co-owner Kim Green. “So that’s great and satisfying to be able to put an event back on of this magnitude with the help of the city. All the departments and the race fans have shown up.”

With an estimated 165,000 event visitors, Green said the economic impact of this year’s Grand Prix could surpass the $60 million mark from years before.