The opening race of the 2020 NTT Data IndyCar Series has canceled general fan attendance amid concerns of COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, St. Petersburg, Fla., mayor Rick Kriseman announced Thursday, March 12.
The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is scheduled to run March 15.
Government officials are still determining if the race should indeed run as two confirmed cases of the virus have been recorded in Pinellas County, where the event is held.
Kriseman said the decision to restrict fans was not easy.
“My most important job is public health and safety,” Kriseman said in a release. “I don’t make this decision lightly. I strongly believe life must carry on, as best we are able. But the reality now is that’s just not possible. I am disappointed. I love this race. But I love this city and our residents more. Thank you for your trust.”
IndyCar has yet to announce any change of plans for additional upcoming events.
Never at a loss for words, Zach Gillispie is a young, talented marketing professional from North Carolina who talks and writes on the side about his first love: racing! Since joining Frontstretch in 2018, Zach has served in numerous roles where he currently pens the NASCAR 101 column, a weekly piece delving into the basic nuts and bolts of the sport. Additionally, his unabashedly bold takes meshed with that trademarked dry wit of his have made Zach a fan favorite on the weekly Friday Faceoff panel. In his free time, he can be found in the great outdoors, actively involved in his church, cheering on his beloved Atlanta Braves or ruthlessly pestering his colleagues with completely useless statistics about Delma Cowart.