Bridgestone Americas, Inc. today announced a two-year extension for the Firestone brand’s title sponsorship of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding through 2025. Firestone has been a partner with the event since 2005, then elevated its commitment to become the naming rights partner of this NTT INDYCAR® SERIES event in 2014.
This is Firestone’s 24th consecutive year as the sole tire supplier of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES as the season gets underway this weekend for the 13th time on the downtown streets of St. Petersburg. The race continues to be an ideal setting for the brand to engage race fans and consumers while showcasing its best-in-class tire technology. In 2023, starting with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding, NTT INDYCAR SERIES cars will race on guayule natural rubber, featuring a green sidewall, as the alternate tire on all street circuits.
“We are proud to continue our partnership with Green Savoree Racing Promotions to support a marquee event in a community that shares our passion for INDYCAR racing,” said Lisa Boggs, Director of Motorsports at Bridgestone Americas. “This year’s race marks the Firestone brand’s tenth year as entitlement sponsor, and we’re honored to extend this relationship through 2025.”
“It’s an honor for our team to host this event in the City of St. Petersburg each year and to do so with the unparalleled support of an iconic brand like Firestone spanning 19 years now. Lisa (Boggs) and her team continue to help us grow the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding and to elevate the stature of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES as a world-class sport,” said Kim Green, co-owner, chairman and CEO of Green Savoree Racing Promotions, organizers of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. “Year-after-year Firestone delivers a great racing compound to the drivers producing awesome competition on the track for our fans to enjoy!”
Additionally, INDYCAR and Green Savoree St. Petersburg, LLC, the company which owns and operates the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding, have signed a multiyear extension. This ensures the continuation of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES racing on the streets of St. Petersburg.
“The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding has proven to be an exceptional season opener for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “We are pleased to agree to a multiyear extension as we commit to what has become a pillar event on our calendar. The growing crowds and TV audience and continued support from Firestone are important signs of the event’s strength and future. We look forward to the city of St. Petersburg providing the perfect showcase for the stars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES for years to come.”
Firestone is a time-tested brand whose roots run deep in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. For nearly 100 years, Firestone Complete Auto Care (FCAC) has been a trusted provider of tire and automotive services for drivers in the region. Its location on Kennedy Boulevard in downtown Tampa, which is just a few miles from where the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding will be held, first opened in 1933 and stands as the longest still-operating FCAC location in the U.S. FCAC is part of Bridgestone Retail Operations, which owns and operates more than 2,200 tire and vehicle service locations across the country.
Firestone is the official tire of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES currently through the 2025 season. The Firestone Race Tire Engineering team develops race tire specifications to meet the demands of each unique oval, road and street course circuits on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule. These efforts to support the most versatile racing series in the world continue to serve as the ultimate proving ground for the tire technology that everyday drivers can find in the Firestone passenger tires on their personal vehicles.
The 2023 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding runs March 3-5. Tickets start as low as $25. For complete pricing, schedule and festival information, visit gpstpete.com. Follow the event on social media using @gpstpete and #FirestoneGP for the latest updates. Joining the E-Club also provides insider access to the latest news and offers.
Green Savoree St. Petersburg, LLC
