Festival of States and Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Team Up For Thursday Night Parade on April 3

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. (February 6, 2008) --- Some of the top stars of the motorsports world will be up front at the 2008 Festival of States Night Parade when the annual parade rolls through the streets of St. Petersburg on Thursday, April 3.
 Through an association with the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, drivers representing both the IndyCar Series and the American Le Mans Series are expected to lead the Thursday evening parade.  Some of the drivers expected to attend include Marco Andretti, Tony Kanaan, Danica Patrick, Hideki Mutoh and Bryan Herta. Other drivers will be announced closer to the event.
 “The Festival of States is a great celebration of our wonderful city,” said Jill Wilkinson, president of the Suncoasters, the organization of civic leaders that produces the Festival each Spring. “We are very happy to be partnering with the Honda Grand Prix, a premier event that highlights our City and brings the excitement of street racing to our downtown waterfront.   The Twilight Parade welcoming the Honda Grand Prix to St. Petersburg and this year's Festival promise to be the most memorable yet - world class drivers setting the pace will be a big reason why.”
      The Festival of States produces events in celebration of St. Petersburg's legacy and future, to be enjoyed by the total community, and to raise money for schools in art and music programs and scholarships. The City of St. Petersburg and other organizations sponsor the Festival of States.
      “Our participation in the Festival of States parade is a great way to kick-off three huge days of entertainment and world-class racing,” said Tim Ramsberger, Vice President, Andretti Green Promotions.  “It is an honor for the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg to be associated with one of the longest-running events in the community.”
 The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the first street-circuit race on the 2008 IndyCar Series schedule, will be run on a 1.8-mile, 14-turn course through the streets of St. Petersburg on Sunday, April 6.  Qualifying and practice sessions for the inaugural event will be held Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5.  The second running of the Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg on the American Le Mans Series gets under way at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 5. 
 Tickets for the event range from $25 for Friday and Saturday general admission tickets to $80 for prime reserved grandstand seats on Sunday and are available at all Ticketmaster ticket centers.  For more information or to purchase tickets contact the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg box office at (727) 892-5767 or online at www.gpstpete.com or visit Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.com. For a full schedule of Festival of States events, go to www.festivalofstates.com.