The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has lost its title sponsor.
Honda, which has backed the downtown St. Petersburg Indy car race for nine years, told grand prix officials last week it will not be back for the 2014 race.
"To say we're surprised is an understatement," race president Tim Ramsberger told the Tampa Bay Times.
The development comes five months before the event and presents financial and logistical challenges. A new sponsor could be hard to find at such a late date, and the loss of Honda means signage, shirts and the like will have to be changed.