Round 2 — literally and figuratively

After standing water from yesterday’s storm in the Tampa Bay area made the 1.8-mile Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg course innavigable, the IZOD IndyCar Series drivers and teams will try again today to get the second race of the 2010 championship in. A green flag is expected for 10:07 a.m. ET, with TV coverage on ESPN2 (10 a.m. ET) and radio coverage from IMS Radio Network (9:30 a.m. ET). As we’ve mentioned earlier, general admission seating is free for all fans and grandstand/suite tickets will still be honored.

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to watch the race until later tonight. I’ve got work in about 20 minutes and then I have to visit the tax man to try and get my return sorted out so I can mail that off ASAP. Only then will I be able to travel up to my aunt and uncle’s house in Cecil County, Maryland and watch the TiVo recording of today’s event.

I’ll try and post an update or race results during my lunch break, but that depends on how much work I have and if I can park myself in front of a nearby coffee bar with free Wi-Fi.

In the meantime, an article in The Tampa Tribune has comments from St. Petersburg mayor Bill Foster on how the race is going to work out parking and traffic problems that are sure to emerge today in his city as the work week begins. He also expressed confidence that the course would be ready by race time, telling the Tribune’s Tony Fabrizio:

“I’ve got a wonderful staff that is certainly prepared to deliver in all elements. We can put up with hurricanes, so a couple of cells coming through on a Sunday afternoon is not going to stop us.”

We’ll see if they can work their magic and get the race going on schedule today.