Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

[jblaine]

Home - St. Petersburg Grand Prix (http://www.gpstpete.com/)

MASSIVELY bummed there are no touring cars this year.

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

MASSIVELY bummed there are no WCGT cars this year.

But the "Porsche" class in ALMS will be good.

[w0rd]

I wish Sebring would sell me a ticket for Friday only. I would go over there to watch the WC opener.

I will probably only go Friday and Saturday to the SPGP. Possibly go to the Gainesville event on Sunday then.

[Presidential_Detail]

Oh damn i forgot about the sebring event! Id almost rather see those cars than the indy and alms...why did st-pete drop the speed challenge cars?

REAL TIME ACURA FTW!

[Steve C.]

heh, bummer!

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Oh damn i forgot about the sebring event! Id almost rather see those cars than the indy and alms...why did st-pete drop the speed challenge cars?

REAL TIME ACURA FTW!

Partnerships. Previously St Pete was CART which has a partnership with World Challenge (GT and Touring). This year SPGP is IRL which has a partnership with ALMS.

[mofugga]

umm, no 2005 & 2006 were also IRL ;)

the 2006 long beach gp was cart, but speed was there also.

it might be on an alternating schedule what venues the speed challenge races are at. i think they have a few tracks they do every year & then just alternate between others.

[jblaine]

I was pissed last year about the ticketing. To get Friday you have to pay for Wed-Sat. I ended up doing it, but... lame.

[chi town brat]

looking forward to volunteering again this year

enjoyed the event last year as well :)

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

umm, no 2005 & 2006 were also IRL ;)


I stand corrected. I remember seeing that bitch Danika last year.

What I read was the IRL signed a deal to run with ALMS this year. Who knows? It's not like the media ever gets anything wrong. :lol:

[mofugga]

that bitch danica runs with irl ;)

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

that bitch danica runs with irl ;)

Exactly. When you mentioned IRL that's when I remembered I saw her at St Pete. Zipping around on her scooter and having an entourage surrounding her like she's some rapper thug.

[Presidential_Detail]

Exactly. When you mentioned IRL that's when I remembered I saw her at St Pete. Zipping around on her scooter and having an entourage surrounding her like she's some rapper thug.
:lol::lol: Is she even hot?

[D-Roll]

Boooo no touring cars this year

[Jordan Y.]

I'm going to Sebring mostly to watch the WCGT/Touring cars. Student prices rock- 35 for all four days, though I'm only going for one day.

[w0rd]

How do you get those? I was a student once.

[Presidential_Detail]

I'm going to Sebring mostly to watch the WCGT/Touring cars. Student prices rock- 35 for all four days, though I'm only going for one day.

student of what? I want to go to that race. same weekend as st pete grand prix? can you give me a link?

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

:lol::lol: Is she even hot?

No. She's small so you know it's gonna be a tight fit, which of course is good, but other than that she isn't anything special.

[mofugga]

I'm going to Sebring mostly to watch the WCGT/Touring cars. Student prices rock- 35 for all four days, though I'm only going for one day.
i still have a student id. how can i get that deal?

[treekiller]

:lol::lol: Is she even hot?

hot enough, although I beleive a driver should be judged on their performance not their genitals. she gets a lot of unearned attention. at least this sport is grown up enough to allow everyone to compete on an even field.

Don't get me started on how sexist and awful I think it is to have a "ladies" class in national level autocross. there are a few sports where body type does not effect performance, racing being one of them, I know a lot of gals that will spank me. ... on course...

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

hot enough, although I beleive a driver should be judged on their performance not their genitals. she gets a lot of unearned attention. at least this sport is grown up enough to allow everyone to compete on an even field.

Don't get me started on how sexist and awful I think it is to have a "ladies" class in national level autocross. there are a few sports where body type does not effect performance, racing being one of them, I know a lot of gals that will spank me. ... on course...

Well, sort of even. Weighing the car with the driver would be more even.

As for mens and womens divisions, I don't see a problem with them being separated any more than with age groups. It's timed anyway so if some bull wants to be all dykish about beating a man she can still pull out the times and brag until her pussy gets wet. So what.

[Loren]

I'm pretty liberal, but this has clearly turned into a pointless personal bashing session. Take that crap somewhere else. Let's stay on topic here.

Thanks.

[jblaine]

student of what? I want to go to that race. same weekend as st pete grand prix? can you give me a link?
World Challenge at Sebring - March 14-17

Honda Grand Prix - March 30 - April 1

[Jordan Y.]

I can't find the student deal on their site. My friend has a room at the hotel and a bunch of people going, so I'll talk to him to see where he got the info on that to confirm it.

[Jordan Y.]

He said it wasn't advertised on their site, and that you'd either have to go to ticketmaster for the tickets at that price, or at the gate. I think he said the ticket office on USF campus will do it. I'll have to go check into this and report back if I get the discounted price.

[bob marley]

As far as sebring goes, I think the student deal is actually $45 (can't remember). I hear you can get it at the ticketmaster @ USF's marshall center, but I'm not sure. For the past 3 years, I have bought my ticket at the gate and showed them my student ID. Hope that helps

[Jordan Y.]

You need to have your student ID at the "will call" section at the gate. Or you can get it at the marshall center like he said.

[Rosko]

The race is this weekend. The ALMS race is on Saturday and the IRL race is on Sunday. I'm a bit more excited about the ALMS race, but really put off by the lack of World Challenge presence. <sigh> No photo op with Randy Pobst again.

Is anyone going to go?

I'll be there both days and skipping the Gainesville autocross.

[jblaine]

I'll be there Friday and Saturday. I've been twice before, and sorely miss the touring cars as well, but for some reason I am pretty excited to go this year. Just having a positive week I guess -- Sunny Florida and racing.

[Jordan Y.]

My dad has seats in a box apparently. I just found this out today. He was going to take me on Sat and my brother on Sun but I've been signed up for the TRack day for a month. I'm trying to get him to switch it, if so, I'm going to go see some open-wheel racing for the first time since I was 4.

[LongFellow]

I want to see the Audi R10 up-close. plus this is 10 minutes down the road from me, I used to skateboard all the time down at the theater where most of the paddock is.

I also saw the P2 Acura racing team cross the skyways when i was on my boat. Kinda odd to look up randomly and see a huge ass picture of a P2 race car floating down the bridge.

[LongFellow]

Before they completly blocked off the road This is the back straight going down 2nd street.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k234/initialkoncept/DSCF0001.jpg

[SaturnTypeR]

Got to the back corner...but SPPD stopped me as i got out of the car to take shots.:(

So had to leave asap.

Guess Ill have to wait till monday to get the shots.

[jblaine]

If I'm not mistaken, the course is identical to the last few years.

Have you guys never gone before? Make sure you go! It's fun.

[Jordan Y.]

I went today for the Indy race and had a great time. My dad and uncle had been given some suite tickets so we got to watch the race in shaded comfort with a cool breeze and an open bar. My favorite spot was the corner of the grandstands closest to the bay/harbor and that last turn before the front straight. You could see half of the course from there and you were only 50 feet away from the cars blasting through that chicane. I hope they're able to get tickets next year because it was a lot of fun.

[Presidential_Detail]

I also went today, quite an experience. You still dont get the excitement like watching it on tv, cuz you hardly ever know whats going on(except for the turn your at). i got some cool pics and vid, i may post it later.

[w0rd]

You still dont get the excitement like watching it on tv, cuz you hardly ever know whats going on(except for the turn your at).
Yeah, using race radios/scanners makes it a lot better experience. I wouldn't watch a race without them now, after using them last year.

[Mars_302]

it sucked not getting a pass this year

[Jordan Y.]

I agree that it was awesome just in the experience. The sights, the sound, the people, everything going on. The race- I had no freakin' idea what was going on at any given time. I had earplugs in except for a minute here and there where I sacrificed a bit of hearing just to listen to the cars go by at full volume. With the earplugs in I couldn't hear a thing they said on the PA. Near the end I tried out the race scanners they had in the suite and it was really neat listening to team radio and the announcers except that the headset was too quiet and was drowed out every time a car went by. I figure I'd get my own race scanner with some real volume-capable headphones if I went back. No matter what, TV is still the best way to watch a race if you want to see what happens.

[LongFellow]

Grandstands were nice, you could watch on the moniters across the raceway to see what is going on elsewhere.

For the ALMS race I started in the grandstands stayed for 30 minutes then walked around to different corners then watched the last 30 minutes back in the grandstands.

[CFP_IVAN]

the TDI team has a very impressive 5.5 V12 TWIN TURBO DIESEL race car, one of the quietest cars in the world, all you can hear is the turbos spolling. They started out agressive and after five laps the both where on 1st and 2nd possition. the gap was pretty big, right behind them was the acuras. also a great team. i have pics and video, i will post later today.

[jblaine]

They started out agressive and after five laps the both where on 1st and 2nd possition. the gap was pretty big, right behind them was the acuras.
The Acuras were in a different class (P2), FWIW.

[jblaine]

P.S. http://americanlemans.com/assets/pdfs/LeaderLightsSystem.pdf

[LongFellow]

the TDI team has a very impressive V10 TURBO DIESEL race car, one of the quietest cars in the world, all you can hear is the turbos spolling. They started out agressive and after five laps the both where on 1st and 2nd possition. the gap was pretty big, right behind them was the acuras. also a great team. i have pics and video, i will post later today.

Its a 5.5 v12

[arsenal]

Grandstands were nice, you could watch on the moniters across the raceway to see what is going on elsewhere.

.


Def. We were in the grandstand right behind the Penske team and Ganassi team. The breeze was perfect.

Great race, although the cautions did get annoying, esp. in the Indy Pro Race.

Note- Did anyone else notice the smell of the ethanol?

And why were those 'drifterz' there? Thought if they were going to have a drifting exhibition they would of at least got some of the pro's to do it?

Spoke to Gene Simmons briefly, bit of a wanker. Walked past Danica, literally walked next to her and didn't realize it was her until a crowd of people ran past me, she is tiny.

Not a big follower of IRL, but Kannan (sp) was a pretty exciting driver to watch.

[LongFellow]

Def. We were in the grandstand right behind the Penske team and Ganassi team. The breeze was perfect.

Great race, although the cautions did get annoying, esp. in the Indy Pro Race.

Note- Did anyone else notice the smell of the ethanol?

And why were those 'drifterz' there? Thought if they were going to have a drifting exhibition they would of at least got some of the pro's to do it?

Spoke to Gene Simmons briefly, bit of a wanker. Walked past Danica, literally walked next to her and didn't realize it was her until a crowd of people ran past me, she is tiny.

Not a big follower of IRL, but Kannan (sp) was a pretty exciting driver to watch.


the ethanol smelled kinda sickly sweet to me.

The driver of the XAT S13 is a pro driver, he drove in Formula Drift for enjuku last year.

I saw her saterday morning on a bike, she looked pissed, then my dad said the samething when he saw her in the paddock on sunday. I dont think she likes to be bothered.

[Jordan Y.]

I think I saw the whole course. We left early and slowly walked out along most of the course route. It's a really small course in the first place so there aren't THAT many places to watch.

[CFP_IVAN]

The Acuras were in a different class (P2), FWIW.

thanks.i knew they where, what i meant was that they where runing same lap times as the TDI team. sorry for the confusion.

[LongFellow]

I was listening to an interview with the one of the drivers for audi over the PA system and he said that the R10 isnt set up for this kind of circuit.

I was surprised at how fucking huge the R10 is. I thought it would of been alot smaller than that, the P2 class was more what i was expecting.

[chi town brat]

There aren't too many great places to watch. The addition of the screens was nice this year.

I ran up to the top of the Pit Row Suites where I volunteer and it is a nice view and a great breeze.

I wish I had remembered to DVR the ESPN broadcast. I enjoy seeing it live but the view from inside the car looking down the street track is insane.

A man we volunteered with got a great pic of Danica watching her practice runs, she doesn't care about media or publicity when it comes time to be out on the track. Personally I think she would start doing better without it (media/publicity).

[TIM TIM TIM]

i thought the alms was the best thing there. it was my first year going nad ill for sure be back there again.

[Mars_302]

im so pissed now. I had applied for media credentials a month before. I lost my email password between then. Finally got it fixed monday night. Bam, theres my confirmation email!

[chi town brat]

im so pissed now. I had applied for media credentials a month before. I lost my email password between then. Finally got it fixed monday night. Bam, theres my confirmation email!

Damn Jerm I had a number of someone who "maybe" could have gotten you in touch with the person you needed to talk to.

[mofugga]

did anyone see the jackass drifter stuff it into the tire barrier at turn 4 on friday? he was going like 15mph & was not drifting, surprising a car set up to drift could understeer so much. was one of the black 240's & it ripped the front bumper off:lol:

[LongFellow]

did anyone see the jackass drifter stuff it into the tire barrier at turn 4 on friday? he was going like 15mph & was not drifting, surprising a car set up to drift could understeer so much. was one of the black 240's & it ripped the front bumper off:lol:

That was a woman driving, cant remeber her name shes a rookie though. Friday was the first time for any of them to drive the track they never got practice laps, and she got better through out friday and on saterday she was doing pretty good.

[Mars_302]

tracy? If that was tracy, thats far from her first time

[LongFellow]

tracy? If that was tracy, thats far from her first time

Thats her name, and I said first time on the track not drifting.

[Mars_302]

she was there last year as well. Though I dont remember if it was her or her husband

[mofugga]

That was a woman driving, cant remeber her name shes a rookie though. Friday was the first time for any of them to drive the track they never got practice laps, and she got better through out friday and on saterday she was doing pretty good.

oh that makes it even more funny. i wish someone had video of it cause wow. but yeah, after that crash she was doing better. the turbo'd suv was the best.


did anyone actually watch the irl stuff? it was great arriving sat for the alms stuff & everyone was leaving, you could watch whereever you wanted!!

[Rosko]

did anyone actually watch the irl stuff?

I watched it. It was quite crowded on Sunday. I'm not real big on IRL because of all the ovals, but I was pulling for Tony Kanaan. He made a great showing considering his problems. We were right across the street when Helio climbed the fence. Pretty cool.

My wife and I just happened to pass by a little fenced-in area full of the scooters that the drivers used to travel to the pits. We stayed there and watched more than half the drivers show up and sign autographs. I'm not interested in autographs, but it was cool to see drivers in real life that I had only seen in pictures and TV. We saw Mario Andretti too! Awesome.