Do This: Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

Depending upon one’s perspective, dozens of race cars descending upon the streets of downtown St. Petersburg like a swarm of angry, fossil fuel-belching wasps is either a world-class event worthy of yearlong anticipation, or a serious impediment to achieving bottomless mimosas. Either way, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, now in its 12th year, always gets residents’ blood pumping.

Part of the Verizon IndyCar Series, the Grand Prix keeps the ‘Burg packed with spectators and events from the Friday-morning practice laps through Saturday’s qualifying rounds to Sunday’s final races. Public highlights include autograph sessions, parties and more, as well as a chance to hear this year’s Grand Marshal, four-time Bucs Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy, call for the racers to “start your engines!”

This article appears in Mar 10-16, 2016.