Firestone speeds to sponsor St. Pete Grand Prix

ST. PETERSBURG — After nine years with Honda, the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has a new title sponsor. Green Savoree St. Petersburg LLC, the promoter of the downtown waterfront race event, announced a multiyear sponsorship agreement with Firestone for the opening race of the 2014 IndyCar Series season.

Green Savoree St. Petersburg reached the deal with the owner of Firestone, Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, for a title sponsorship starting with the race on March 28-30, 2014.

“Firestone has been a first-rate sponsor of our event for the past nine years, and we can only express gratitude for having a partner who understands the value of our event,” Tim Ramsberger, president of the newly christened Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, says in a press release. “It speaks volumes about Firestone and what we have built with all of our partners in our wonderful community.”