This year's edition of the race marks the Firestone brand's fifth year being a title sponsorVERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
Firestone has "announced a two-year extension of its title sponsorship" for Verizon IndyCar Series' Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, putting the brand's name on the race through '20, according to David Malsher of MOTORSPORT.com. That "aligns with Firestone’s current deal with the IndyCar Series which is also due to end that year" (MOTORSPORT.com, 3/8). This year's edition of the race marks the Firestone brand's fifth year as title sponsor, having begun its entitlement in '14 (Firestone). In Tampa, Matt Baker reports the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has "become a landmark event" for IndyCar. Only three of IndyCar's 17 races have "been around longer than the Grand Prix, which will run Sunday for the 14th consecutive year." Its TV audience "trailed only the iconic Indianapolis 500 last season and is up" 61% over the last four years. Event officials "claimed record crowds" in '16 and '17, and drivers rank the race "alongside the series' other crown jewels -- the Indy 500 and the Grand Prix of Long Beach." The race "doesn't release official attendance figures, but said that attendance jumped" 24% from '13-17. Crowd estimates for the "three-day weekend have more than doubled" since '05 (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 3/9).
