Downtown St. Pete's on-again-off-again road race appears to be on solid footing now. Rather than just an event for gearheads, the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is aimed at the whole family, with myriad activities like concerts (see the Music Menu), autograph sessions, an air show, a "drifting display" and sundry other events. The big draw, of course, is the fast cars zipping through a winding (14-turn), 1.8-mile street course located on the downtown waterfront. The main event is Sunday's IndyCar race that features top speeds of 220 mph. A plethora of other races and practice runs take place over the weekend, showcasing autos that aren't quite as fast as the headliners, but that will still blow your hair back. If you like fast and loud, the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is a gift from wheel-nut heaven. Fri.-Sun., March 31-April 2 (Starts at 8 a.m. each day), downtown St. Pete, ticket prices vary, 727-824-7223, www.gpstpete.com.
This article appears in Mar 29 – Apr 4, 2006.