ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — This weekend, when the checkered flag drops for the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, former Mayor Rick Baker will again flash a satisfied smile.
INDYCAR had never had a street course as part of their circuit before then-Mayor Baker waved the green flag in downtown St. Petersburg in 2005.
For Baker, the race started as the passion project.
Growing up on the west side of Indianapolis, Baker said he starting falling in love with INDYCAR when he was 5 and attended his first Indianapolis 500 at age 9. Since then, he hasn’t missed watching a race.
“If you grew up in Indianapolis, you’re not allowed to not be an INDYCAR fan,” he said with a smile.
During his first term in office as St. Petersburg’s mayor, Baker wanted to bring the sport to the city’s waterfront. Some of the framework was already in place, as the city had previously hosted a Champ Car race in 2003 before the sanctioning body went bankrupt.
“It was a crazy idea at the time because INDYCAR had never done a street race,” Baker said.
Baker made a cold call to INDYCAR’s CEO in hopes of getting the sanctioning body onboard.
Honda agreed to take the spot as the title sponsor and the previous circuit from the 2003 race served as a good starting point for the design team. The last piece of the puzzle was getting a promoter, and Andretti Green Promotions agreed to take on the role.
“We really had to convince a lot of people along the way,” he said. “You had the promoter, INDYCAR, and the city because some people weren’t too wild about having loud race cars next door to their retirement community.”
Baker’s INDYCAR dreams came to fruition in April 2005 as the first racers sped off from the starting line as he waved the green flag.
Being INDYCAR’s first street course meant it was also the first right-hand turn in a formal event.
“2005 … the first right-hand turn ever in INDYCAR history. That’s a big deal!” Baker said while pointing at the turn, located following the straightaway by Albert Whitted Airport.
A sticking point for Baker happened as promotors for onetime Champ Car race stated they wanted the event to be branded at the Florida Grand Prix.
“If we’re going to have a race here, then it needs to be named St Petersburg,” Baker said. “The only way for that to happen is it’s got to be the name of the race. You can do anything you want, but the race needs to be after the city. There’s a reason it’s the Indianapolis 500.”
Now 20 races later, Baker will once again serve as one of the grand marshal’s of the race alongside his predecessors Bill Foster, Rick Kriseman, and Ken Welch.
Practice and qualifying rounds will take place March 8 & 9 with the final races beginning at noon Sunday, March 10.
Angie Angers
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