Two months and counting till opener

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There's only two months until IZOD IndyCar Series drivers take the green flag for the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the scenic 1.8-mile temporary street course.

It will be the debut of the new Dallara DW12 chassis, engine manufacturer competition between Honda, Chevrolet and Lotus with their 2.2-liter, turbocharged V-6 packages, and a few new drivers and commercial partners to the series.

James Hinchcliffe isn't one of the newbies, but he'll compete for the first time at St. Pete in the IZOD IndyCar Series. The 2011 Sunoco Rookie of the Year wasn't in the lineup with Newman/Haas Racing as car sponsorship wasn't sorted out.

"I'm super-excited for St. Pete for a lot of reasons," said Hinchcliffe, who will drive the No. 27 GoDaddy.com car for Andretti Autosport. "It's such a cool event; the atmosphere is always awesome. It's the best place to kick off our season."

Hinchcliffe recorded a podium finish and a pole start in three Firestone Indy Lights races on the circuit in 2009 and '10.

"It's a great street circuit with some really quick sections and technical sections," he said. "There are passing opportunities and we put on a good show for the fans. That's what matters the most."

The event, which will be the IZOD IndyCar Series opener for the third time in the past five seasons, enters its eighth year under INDYCAR sanction. Dario Franchitti, the three-time defending series champion, was the 2011 race winner. Constructing the circuit commences Feb. 19.

"It's getting bigger and better," said Tim Ramsberger, vice president and general manager of the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. "We think it's going to be another tremendous, and obviously historic, weekend of racing in St. Petersburg. Not only are we debuting the 2012 car, we'll respectfully honor Dan Wheldon in a couple of different ways throughout the weekend. There will be a lot of things converging in St. Pete."

Weekend tickets and paddock passes are available now (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS), while single-day tickets will go on sale March 1. Ramsberger said tickets are pacing "very well."

"My recommendation is people will need to buy reserved grandstand tickets early this year to be assured of a seat," he said. "The grandstands on the front straight are a tremendous location, with our hospitality suites above them, and there are three large video boards that help you keep track of all the racing on the rest of the track.

"There are grandstands in Turn 1 and Turn 10 that also are tremendous, and there are plenty of GA areas throughout the entire site."

Register for 5K Run, Walk, N Wheelathon

The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation and Trim Nutrition, a leader in wellness supplements and sustained energy products, announced that the third Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg 5K Run, Walk, N Wheelathon is March 23.

All proceeds will benefit Schmidt's foundation and All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg. CLICK HERE for more information or to register.