St. Pete: Preview

(Originally posted by Steph to Planet-IRL.com.)

As I put the finishing touches on this post, I’m sitting in Buffalo Niagara International Airport waiting for the first of my flights for the day.  My ultimate destination is, of course, St. Petersburg and the weekend of racing being headlined by the IZOD IndyCar Series.

First, a disclaimer:  this is the first IndyCar event that I’ll be covering with any degree of seriousness.  (The good folks over at IndyCar Nation might try to tell you otherwise, but they’re just being kind.)  I’m not used to having a legitimate excuse to waltz up to people and ask them for interviews, so I’ll be spending this and the next few race weekends I attend in person very much in observation mode.

But, that being said, I’m a fairly observant person, so I’m confident that I’ll still have plenty to type to you about.  On top of the action on the racetrack and in the paddock, I’ll also be sure to take in as much of the fan experience as possible and let you know what you might expect your weekend to be like if you ever decide to make the trip yourself.  For those who need to be selective about the races they attend, I hope this sort of information will help with selecting the event that most closely matches the race weekend experience you’re looking for.

Of course, the schedule is so jam-packed with on-track action this weekend that I may have less time for wandering than I’d normally take.  This is one of only two weekends this season where all four of the Road to Indy series will be racing, and I’m very much looking forward to checking out the talent from the junior ranks of open-wheel all the way to the top.

One bit of insight I’m hoping will be interesting is observing how this weekend is run under the organization now known as Green Savoree Promotions.  This will be my first time attending the event in St. Pete, but I also attended the race in Toronto last year, which marked their first year as promoters there.  I’m very curious to see how St. Pete looks five years into their tenure and to comparing that back to the less-than-smooth experience in Toronto last year and seeing what folks there might be able to look forward to in the future.

For this and other reporting trackside this weekend, be sure to keep an eye on Planet-IRL.com, and please also check me out on Twitter if you’re so inclined (@99forever).  I’ll do my best to provide coverage that’s well-rounded, interesting, and informative.

My flight is about to board, so I’ll sign off for now.  I can’t wait to fill my nostrils with the smell of melted rubber and ethanol fumes again.  It’s been far, far too long.