At a news conference at the Mahaffey Theater, Mazda Road to Indy officials announced several new partnerships for the official driver development ladder of INDYCAR.

After sweeping the opening rounds of the Cooper Tires presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda at Sebring International Raceway less than a week ago, the Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing team is hoping to do the same this weekend on the Streets of St. Petersburg, March 24-25.

A huge field of 35 drivers, including 29 Americans and overseas campaigners from as far afield as Australia, Korea and Norway, is expected to converge on the 1.8-mile street circuit which is centered on the Albert Whitted Airport adjacent to downtown St. Petersburg, Fla.

Hot on the heels of a victory at the Florida Winter Tour shifter weekend, Matthew Di Leo and MDL Racing held strong hopes for the USF2000 season-opening event at the Twelve Hours of Sebring at Sebring International Raceway.

Sophomore USF2000 driver Shannon McIntosh is the only competitor scheduled to compete this weekend who will be calling the Streets of St. Petersburg her home racetrack.