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Twists and turns for fans

The downtown streets are closing. The tractor trailers are rolling in. And driver Danica Patrick is planning a Tampa Bay area pit stop. It’s race week again in St. Petersburg. As race officials finish preparing the 1.8-mile, 14-turn street course, here are some tips to get you ready for the races.

By Aaron Sharockman
Published March 28, 2007

NOT A RACE FAN? You still can get around, despite the traffic and street closings.

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Edmund D. Fountain] Shelly Bee, 44, of Canada works on top of one of the barricades for the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. About 2,000 12-foot-long concrete blocks form the barricades along the downtown race course. Related content Try your luck: Play our racing game When the race car engines roar, the air whispers ... Jiffy Pop Meet Sarah Fisher Follow the action around the track: Lug Nuts Follow the weekend's action in our Racing section

GO TO TAMPA, SEE DANICA: Patrick, the IndyCar Series driver/cover girl, stops by the Seminole Hard Rock in Tampa at 8 tonight. After an hour of signing autographs, she'll raffle off a car.

WELCOME PARTY: A free Central Avenue street party runs from 5:30-10 p.m. Friday.

PARKING: All city lots are charging $10 through the weekend. The largest parking lot is at Tropicana Field. A free shuttle will pick up at 10th Street and Third Avenue and drop off two blocks from the entry gate at Fourth Avenue S and Third Street. Look for buses with a "Grand Prix Shuttle" sign on the windshield.

NOT A RACE FAN? You still can get around, despite the traffic and street closings. A free downtown shuttle service will run 10 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday. Stops include the Salvador Dali Museum, the Pier, BayWalk, Williams Park and the Hilton and Hampton Inn hotels in downtown.

ROCK 'N' RACING: Los Lobos will play after Saturday's American Le Mans Series race. Yellowcard will perform after the IndyCar Series race Sunday. Only race ticket holders can see the shows.

TICKETS: Ticket booths at the track will open at 8 a.m. Friday through Sunday. Booths are located at First Avenue S and First Street, Fourth Avenue S and Second Street and Fifth Avenue S and Second Street. General admission tickets for Friday or Saturday cost $25; tickets are $40 Sunday.

[Last modified March 28, 2007, 09:05:16]