Photos courtesy of Isabella Ferrou
Day 1 wasn’t just a practice run; it was a statement. With its festive atmosphere and the aroma of pizza, burgers and hot dogs, the Grand Prix returned to the Tampa Bay Region with speed and anticipation. NASCAR Craftsman trucks made history in St. Pete, with their first-ever debut on the street course in over 30 years. However, due to the severe weather, fans and cars had to evacuate quickly, cutting their practice short. This storm did not dampen the spirits of the fans nor the drivers, considering Max Garcia, a 16-year-old rookie, was eager to make his INDYCAR debut after winning the USF Pro Championship in 2024 and 2025.
“I have been working to get in here for the last three years, so I’m just really proud to call myself an Indy NXT driver and really get this year going,” said Garcia.
In practice, Garcia placed 13th out of the 24 drivers and has qualifiers at the end of the second day. Now that all eyes are on Saturday’s qualifying races, fans are eager to find out who will take home the title of Firestone Grand Prix Champion.
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