The IZOD IndyCar Series may be based in the Heartland of America, but it will be far from the still-wintry weather of Indiana when all the stars and cars of the nation’s premier open wheel racing series kick off their 2013 season in St. Petersburg, Fla., this weekend.

The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is essentially a huge street festival, annually drawing winter-weary fans to the summerlike climate of central Florida. Nestled alongside Tampa Bay, one of Florida’s most picturesque bodies of water, the 1.8-mile racecourse winds its way through city streets adjacent to St. Petersburg’s harbor and yacht club, and renders an upscale atmosphere for the IndyCar faithful.

Though it may seem an interesting choice for a season opener in a series that made famous such gritty open wheel racing legends as A.J. Foyt, Johnny Rutherford and Gordon Johncock, the St. Petersburg street race is clearly in keeping with the course set by IndyCar in recent seasons: Diversity of tracks, including seven temporary street circuits, three road courses and six ovals.