1.      Track build begins at Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg circuit

2.      Forgeois joins ZSports/Team E Racing's USF2000 effort

3.      Of note1. Track build underway at Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg circuit: Sebastien Bourdais has a tangible countdown to the IZOD IndyCar Series season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg every time he rides his bike on portions of the 1.8-mile, 14-turn circuit.Construction of the temporary street circuit for the ninth annual event March 22-24 began Feb. 15.Over the next 35 days, about 250 workers will transform 20,000 feet of steel-reinforced concrete blocks, 44,000 feet of chain-link fencing and more than 12,000 tires into a demanding and entertaining racing circuit that features a 2,350-foot frontstretch on an airport runway. They'll also erect eight spectator grandstands and other infrastructure.Bourdais, who enters his second season in the No. 7 Dragon Racing car, will seek to make his third start at St. Pete. He earned the pole in the lone Champ Car event on the waterfront course (2003) and finished 21st (mechanical) in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series opener."It looks very different when there aren't any concrete blocks or anything," said Bourdais, a St. Petersburg resident who turns 34 on Feb. 28. "It's a racetrack that is not very invasive on the neighborhood so it's a good setup to insure the continuity of the event. It's a challenging track and getting bumpier every year, which is what you would expect from a street course. There are sections that are very technical and unforgiving."The promoter group, in conjunction with the IZOD IndyCar Series, will have workers grind the curbing at Turn 12 to lessen its severity. Bourdais will begin on-track preparations for the 19-race season with testing Feb. 18 (Sebring) and 27 (Sonoma) before an IZOD IndyCar Series Open Test."It's been a long offseason; my last race was Baltimore," said Bourdais, who competed on road/street courses in 2012 following the Indianapolis 500. "I'm looking forward to racing at St. Pete soon."2. Forgeois joins ZSports/Team E Racing's USF2000 effort: Luca Forgeois will join ZSports/Team E Racing's chase for Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda title in a second car from the Florida-based squad."We are very happy to have Luca joining the team this season," stated ZSports team principal Steve Thomson. "He is an impressive young man, and when paired with RC (Enerson), we believe we have one of the most talented line-ups in the series. We can't wait to for the season to get underway and start challenging for top honors."Forgeois, a 17-year-old New York native, captured the National class championship crown in 2011. He ran a partial Championship class campaign in 2012. The second-generation driver, whose father George competed in USF2000 in the 1990's, looks forward to battling for positions among the front-runners right from the waving of the first green flag in March."I am truly excited to be joining ZSports in their USF2000 Championship campaign this year," added Forgeois. "After meeting the team and having tested with them, it became very apparent how much effort and dedication they are putting into the operation this year. Steve is very motivated as a team owner to continue his success in the National class year with multiple wins. I wish to continue that chain of success into the 2013 season, and achieve the great potential we have. I am also really looking forward to driving alongside a talented driver like RC Enerson."3. Of note: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing announced that TranSystems Inc., a global engineering transportation firm, has become an Official Team Partner as well as an associate sponsor of the No. 15 entry driven by Graham Rahal for the next two seasons. Associate sponsors Alfe Heat Treating, Greer Enterprises and Housby Trucking have re-signed with A.J. Foyt Racing. ... Coca-Cola will become the Official Soft Drink of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and The Mid-Ohio School as part of a multi-year partnership. SPEED Energy Drink will be the Official Energy Drink of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 19-21.***The 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series season opens with the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg March 24 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. The race will be televised live at noon (ET) by the NBC Sports Network (Verizon FiOS 90/590, DirecTV 220, DISH 159 and AT&T UVerse 640) and broadcast by the IMS Radio Network on SiriusXM and www.indycar.com. The 2013 Firestone Indy Lights season begins March 23 on the Streets of St. Petersburg. The race will be televised by NBC Sports Network at 11 a.m. (ET) on March 24, immediately preceding the IZOD IndyCar Series race broadcast.