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Montoya helps start construction of St. Petersburg circuit

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The date every Verizon IndyCar Series enthusiast is looking forward to is March 13. That’s when the 2016 season gets underway with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

But before there can be a race, there needs to be a track.

Defending Indianapolis 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya was on hand in St. Petersburg, Florida on Tuesday to help get the track construction process underway. Montoya joined St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and Green Savoree Promotions co-owners Kim Green and Kevin Savoree in wearing hard hats to note the occasion.

“It’s very nice to be here in St. Petersburg and see the racetrack, see the city,” Montoya told IndyCar.com. “The city is really pretty. Preparing for the first race is huge, last year was a great race for me and a great crowd. Hopefully we’ll have a great crowd and a great race weekend (this year) as well.”

How the track is constructed relies on traffic flow in the city located west of Tampa. The ceremony took place in Bay Shore Drive, a low traffic area and will conclude in areas close to Albert Whitted Airport, where the track occupies one runway.

When it’s all done, the area will have become a 1.8-mile, 14-turn circuit. Montoya won the 2015 race to start last season. The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has been held every year since 2003 except for 2004. This year will be the eighth time it has opened the IndyCar season.

“It’s a great way to start the season,” Montoya said. “We do about three or four street courses a year and this is one of the most fun ones, for sure.”

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