Times staff
Saturday, March 26, 2011
What: IndyCar season opener plus races in other series (Indy Lights, USF2000 and World Challenge)
When/where: Today; downtown streets of St. Petersburg
TV/radio: 12:30 p.m. Ch. 28; 1250-AM
Tickets
Reserved: Upper rows $80 for adults, $55 for 12 and younger; lower rows $60 for adults, $35 for 12 and younger
General admission: $40 for adults, $15 for 12 and younger
Paddock passes: $30 for adults, $25 for 12 and younger
Go to gpstpete.com or call (727) 898-4639, ext. 225, for details or to buy.
What you can't bring
• Food or alcoholic beverages
• Glass bottles and cans
• Coolers
• Stadium seats
• Firearms and weapons
• Fireworks
• Commercial signs/banners
• Signs and banners that impair spectator vision or safety
• Lawn furniture, folding chairs (except in RV park)
• Pets (except certified service animals)
• Scaffolding, ladders, step stools or other structures
• Noisemakers, horns, helium balloons, beach balls
• Bicycles and scooters
• Skates, skateboards, inline skates
• Motorcycles, off-road vehicles
• Handbills and pamphlets
What you should bring
• Earplugs
• Walking shoes
• Notepad for autographs
• Binoculars
• Rain poncho
• Camera or videocamera
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses, hat/visor
• Money for concessions and souvenirs
About hearing protection
Permanent hearing loss occurs from prolonged sound exposure to sound levels higher than 85 dB (it is about 115 dB about 10 feet from a race car). Earplugs are available at the track or you can wear sound-blocking earmuffs, available at hardware or sporting good stores.
Concessions and souvenirs
• Adult T-shirt $25
• Youth T-shirt $18
• Baseball cap $25
• Hat pin $8
• Can cooler $5
The cars: What you'll see
IndyCar series
The drivers who run in the Indianapolis 500 take over the downtown streets of St. Petersburg. These cars have normally aspirated, 3.5-liter V-8 engines, and speeds can top more than 180 mph on the frontstretch. It will be loud and fast.
Indy Lights
Prospects race in slightly less-powerful versions of IndyCars. They run V8s but produce about 450 horsepower to 650 for IndyCars.
Other series
USF2000, a first step for open-wheel aspirants. And the SCCA World Challenge sportscars, plus drifting cars.
Times staff