2011 Honda Grand Prix of St. Pete Kicks off With Green Flag Luncheon

World class drivers from five different race series, along with members of the media, packed the Polywog Room of the Vinoy Golf Club Thursday morning to kick off the 2011 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Defending Izod Racing League champ Dario Franchitti was on hand to answer questions about his back-to-back championships, his victory in last year’s Indy 500, and his feelings about the downtown course in St. Pete.

“You’re seeing the race get bigger" here, he said. “One of the big things for us is the support of the community and the mayor that really helped to get the ball rolling. The city seems to love having the race and we love coming here.”

No word on whether he was asked if his wife, actress and Kentucky basketball fan, Ashley Judd, will be here rooting for her husband or following her Wildcats, who could potentially have a game Sunday in Newark if they win against Ohio State tonight.

In addition to Franchitti, newly-transplanted USF2000 series driver Shannon McIntosh was a popular interview subject, perhaps because she’s 5’1,” 21 years old, and, well, a girl.

McIntosh, who has been racing since she was 5 years old, recently relocated from Indianapolis to St. Pete, and she “loves it” here. She lives about a mile from the track and plans to walk to it one day, just so she can say she did it.

So what possessed a pretty, petite woman to race with the big boys?

“I’ve always been very naïve to the fact that I’m a female and that I’m petite,” she said. “I remember I was 11 and I started racing against men…and I would laugh about everybody looking at me. I think it’s good that I’m oblivious to it. I’m just a race car driver at heart.”

Judging by the attendance at the luncheon and the excitement surrounding the event, McIntosh might be on to something when she said of St. Pete “It’s soon going to be the racing capital of the world!”