Tag: Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach

Long Beach Preview

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The 2025 Long Beach weekend is one I have been anticipating since my last visit to southern California since my last trip in 2022. Sunday’s Indycar race marks 50 years of racing on the streets of this city by the sea.

It is the 41st race IndyCar. The first race was Formula 5000 event in 1975, followed eight years of Formula 1. How special is this place? Formula 1 tried to return a few years ago and was rebuffed by the city and the grand prix owners. NASCAR turned an eye toward staging a race here as well.

IndyCar resolved the issue by buy the late Kevin Kalkhoven’s half of the franchise. Since by law only one weekend a year can be used for a race in the streets, it is solely for IndyCar as long as they wish.

The third race of the 2025 season should play out much like the St. Pete opener, although there are a couple of added twists.

Longer Race

The race distance is now 90 laps, up from 85 the past few years. How will the new distance affect fuel strategy? Can someone still make it on two stops? And if fuel isn’t the question mark, tires certainly will be.

Changing Colors?

Firestone will bring the same compound to Long Beach that was used at St. Pete. We can assume high wear on the alternates. IndyCar has returned to the new allotment formula of five sets of primaries and five sets of alternates.

Long Beach has traditionally been a race for the alternate tires, but with the alternate rubber’s shorter life this year, is this now a race favoring the primary tires?

Kyle Kirkwood said in the media conference that it is too soon to tell

“In the past, it’s typically been a red tire race. That’s
obviously going to change now, considering it’s the same
tire as St. Pete. That’s really the only question mark we
have in our minds right now. We need to get through the
first practice to know exactly how bad or good it’s going to
be.”

Palou Goes for Three

Alex Palou has a chance Sunday to match teammate Scott Dixon’s feat in 2020 of winning the first three races of the season. I say he will not win this weekend.

Andretti Global looks to be reasserting their street course dominance. Both Colton herta and Kyle Kirkwood have each won at Long Beach. Look for one of them to be in Victory Lane after 90 laps.

IMSA

A highlight of Long Beach is the IMSA event which accompanies the IndyCar race. Saturday’s 100-minute race has some added interest for IndyCar fans.

Robert Wickens makes his return to major league motorsport, driving a Corvette in the GTD class. Wickens won several races and the championship in the Michelin Pilot Challenge.

It will be a thrill to watch him race at this high level again. I have a feeling some fans who use the IMSA race time to just walk around the track will be watching this race.

Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach Fast Facts 

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From IndyCar

 Race weekend: Friday, April 11 – Sunday, April 13
Track: 1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary street course (clockwise) in Long Beach, California
Race distance: 90 laps / 177.12 miles
Push-to-pass parameters: 200 seconds of total time, with a maximum time of 20 seconds per activation
Hybrid energy deployment parameters: Unlimited activation, with a maximum deployment of 415 kilojoules (kj) per lap
Firestone tire allotment: Five sets primary (hard) and five sets alternate (soft) to be used during the event weekend. Teams fielding a rookie driver may use one additional set of primary tires. Teams must use one set of primary and one set of new (sticker) alternate tires for at least two laps in the race.

X: @GPLongBeach, @INDYCAR, #AGPLB, #INDYCAR
Instagram: @GPLongBeach, @INDYCAR, #AGPLB, #INDYCAR
Facebook: @GrandPrixLB, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR
TikTok: @grandprixlongbeach, @INDYCAR, #INDYCAR
YouTube: @INDYCAR
Event website: www.gplb.com
INDYCAR website: www.indycar.com

2024 race winner: Scott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)
2024 NTT P1 Award: Felix Rosenqvist (No. 60 AutoNation/SiriusXM Honda), 1:06.0172, 107.317 mph
Qualifying lap record: Colton Herta, 1:05.3095, 108.480 mph, April 9, 2022

FOX Sports telecast: 
Practice 1, 6 p.m. ET, Friday, FS1 (live);
Practice 2, 11:30 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live);
Qualifying, 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS2 (live);
Warmup, Noon ET Sunday, FS1 (live);
Race, 4:30 p.m. ET Sunday, FOX (live).

Will Buxton is the play-by-play announcer for FOX’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Kevin Lee and Jack Harvey are the pit reporters. A Spanish-language telecast of the race will be available on FOX Deportes.

INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Jake Query, Nick Yeoman and Michael Young are the turn announcers. Ryan Myrehn, Jonathan Grace and DJ Clark are the pit reporters. The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach race (4 p.m. ET on April 13) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218, indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

At-track schedule (all local times):
Friday, April 11
3:05-4:25 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 1 (split group format), FS1 (live)
Saturday, April 12
8:30-9:30 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 2 (limited green flag guarantee of 45 minutes), FS1 (live)1
1:35 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (three rounds of knockout qualifying), FS2 (live)
Sunday, April 13
9:02-9:27 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, FS1 (live)
12:59 p.m. – Driver introductions
1:30 p.m. – FOX on air
1:45 p.m. – Start engines command
1:52 p.m. – Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (90 laps/177.12 miles), FOX, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network (live). Spanish telecast on FOX Deportes (live)
WHAT TO LOOK FOR AT LONG BEACH:
1. Palou on repeat: After scoring wins in the first two races of the season, Alex Palou looks to continue his winning streak and become just the fourth driver since 1979 to open the season with three or more wins.
Scott Dixon was the last driver to start the season with three wins, when he captured the first three races of the 2020 season. Dixon, Sebastien Bourdais (first four races of the 2006 Champ Car season) and Paul Tracy (first three wins of 2003 CART season) all won INDYCAR SERIES titles after starting the season with a win streak.
2. It’s not where you start…: Except for Alexander Rossi’s wins in 2018-19 and Kyle Kirkwood’s win from pole in 2023, the pole position has not been the place to start at Long Beach. Just six drivers have won Long Beach from the top spot. While pole winners have scored podium finishes in recent races, they’ve also finished 15th or worse just as often (Colton Herta – 23rd in 2022, Ryan Hunter-Reay – 20th in 2014, Dario Franchitti – 15th in 2012, and Justin Wilson – 19th in 2008).
3. …It’s where you finish: Alex Palou is the only driver to finish in the top five in both of this season’s events. Palou, who won at St. Petersburg and Thermal, is one of six drivers to finish in the top 10 in each race, so far. The other drivers are Scott Dixon, Kyle Kirkwood, Christian Lundgaard, Felix Rosenqvist and Alexander Rossi.
Race Notes:This weekend’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will mark the 50th auto racing event and the 41st INDYCAR SERIES event on the historic Long Beach street circuit. Mario Andretti won the first INDYCAR SERIES race in 1984. Scott Dixon won the race in 2024.
Three California natives are entered: 2018 and 2019 race winner Alexander Rossi is a native of Nevada City, while Andretti Global’s Colton Herta, the 2021 race winner, hails from Valencia. Nolan Siegel, who made his INDYCAR SERIES debut at Long Beach in 2024, hails from Palo Alto.
Al Unser Jr. has won the most times at Long Beach (six), while Scott Dixon, Will Power and Alexander Rossi are the only entered drivers with multiple wins. Dixon won in 2015 and 2020 Power won in 2008 and 2012, and Rossi won in 2018 and 2019.
Other former race winners scheduled to compete are Colton Herta (2021), Josef Newgarden (2022) and Kyle Kirkwood (2023).Six drivers have won the race from the pole – Mario Andretti (1984, 1985 and 1987), Al Unser Jr. (1989-90), Helio Castroneves (2001), Sebastien Bourdais (2006-07), Alexander Rossi (2018-19) and Kyle Kirkwood (2023).
Twenty-four of the 27 drivers entered have competed in INDYCAR SERIES races at Long Beach. 
Will Power has 18 starts, the most among all entered drivers. Nine entered drivers have led laps: Power 187, Alexander Rossi 151, Scott Dixon 146, Josef Newgarden 100, Colton Herta 78, Kyle Kirkwood 54, Alex Palou 24, Graham Rahal 4 and Felix Rosenqvist 1.
Milestones: Alexander Rossi will attempt to make his 150th INDYCAR SERIES start at Long Beach … Marcus Ericsson will attempt to make his 100th INDYCAR SERIES start at Long Beach…Scott Dixon will look to extend his consecutive starts streak to 342 – the longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Dixon’s next top-10 finish will be the 300th of his career. 

Penske Entertainment Acquires Grand Prix Association of Long Beach

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  Ambitious INDYCAR Growth Agenda Rolls ForwardI
 
NDIANAPOLIS/LONG BEACH, Calif. (Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024) – Penske Entertainment announced today the newest member of its growing event portfolio, confirming the acquisition of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, LLC, from longtime owner Gerald R. Forsythe. The association administers the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, the longest-running major street circuit race in North America. The purchase is expected to provide significant investment for the marquee NTT INDYCAR SERIES race, to further enhance this can’t-miss celebration of speed and Southern California motorsport culture for years to come.This upcoming year marks the 50th edition of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, with special programming planned to mark the occasion.
The race will return to network television, with FOX set to broadcast the event Sunday, April 13.
“We’re incredibly proud to be the new stewards of this cherished and iconic event,” said Roger Penske. “This is the most historic and prestigious street circuit race in North America, and we’re excited to work with Jim Michaelian and his great team in Long Beach to ensure continued success and growth over the long term. This race and its loyal fans matter so much to everyone across the INDYCAR community, and we’re looking forward to a very special 50th anniversary celebration this April, as well.”
“As we prepare to celebrate a truly remarkable milestone, the 50th anniversary of this amazing event, it’s fitting that we have such exciting and important news to share about its future,” said Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach President & CEO Jim Michaelian. “Roger and the team at Penske Entertainment understand the special history and unique qualities that give us such a strong foundation and will be ideal partners as we continue to deliver an exceptional race weekend for our fans moving forward. I also want to acknowledge the significant contribution that the previous owners, Jerry Forsythe and the late Kevin Kalkhoven, made to the success of our event over the past 19 years.”As an acclaimed and highly attended annual event located in the nation’s entertainment capital, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is a premier race weekend for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Working alongside the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach team, Penske Entertainment plans to invest in bolstering and enhancing the experience for race fans, sponsors and hospitality customers.“
This is a major race weekend, not just on our calendar but across the motorsport landscape,” Penske Entertainment President & CEO Mark Miles said. “We’re committed to preserving the core attributes that make it best in class while also working on some exciting and bold initiatives to make its future even bigger and brighter.”
The three-day weekend regularly attracts crowds of over 190,000 people to its 1.968-mile racecourse surrounding the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. The 2024 edition featured a supercharged atmosphere, which included the largest attendance in the modern INDYCAR era. The event brings global attention and positive economic impact to its home city, while also maintaining a charitable organization – the Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach – which has donated more than $4.2 million to those in need within the Long Beach community.
“The Grand Prix is an incredibly vital and vibrant asset for our community and an annual event that drives commerce, attracts tourism and elevates cultural connectivity across our city,” said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. “Penske Entertainment will be a committed and energetic partner for the future that seeks to preserve and enhance this event’s rich history and strong legacy. We’re looking forward to a great working relationship that benefits everyone who calls Long Beach home.”
As part of today’s announcement, Penske Entertainment and the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach released a special video, narrated by former Indy 500 Honorary Starter and acclaimed actor Milo Ventimiglia. You can watch here.
Today’s news marks the continuation of an ambitious and productive period for Penske Entertainment, which owns and manages INDYCAR and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. In September, the organization announced the establishment of the first charter system in INDYCAR’s history, providing NTT INDYCAR SERIES owners meaningful and enhanced value across their entries.
In October, Penske Entertainment unveiled the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington, powered through a first-of-its-kind joint venture with the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers.
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is North America’s premier open-wheel racing series, featuring an international field of the world’s most versatile drivers who compete on superspeedways, short ovals, street circuits and permanent road courses across the United States and Canada. Beginning in 2025, FOX Sports will be the exclusive home of all INDYCAR action, providing a network broadcast via FOX of all 17 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the only premier motorsport series in the U.S. to broadcast every race on network television. 

The Fuel Master is In-Long Beach Quick Thoughts

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Photo by Kyle McInnes

What words are left to describe Scott Dixon’s mastery of fuel strategy? I have used alchemist, wizard, miser, and a bunch of other nouns I can’t remember over the last 20 years. Today’s triumph at Long Beach was one of the top five wins of his 57 victories.

Dixon had to hold off a fast closing Josef Newgarden, then a hungry Colton Herta while making sure he had enough fuel to get to the end. he was one of the drivers who pitted on lap 17 during the only caution of the day and cycled to the front when the rest of the field took their stops 14 laps later. Dixon made his last stop on lap 51 and squeezed 34 laps out of the tank.

The Dixon File:

57 wins puts him just 10 behind A. J. Foyt.

Dixon has won at least one race each season for the past 20 years. This is NOT a typo.

Dixon has won 4 of the last 6 Indycar races dating back to the Gallagher Grand Prix at IMS in August 2023.

I said in my review that Indycar needed to have a good show this weekend, and they delivered. I thought this was a fascinating race with the split fuel and tire strategies before the dramatic fight at the end. It’s a while since four cars were in contention for the win with less than 10 laps to go. Today provided great momentum heading to Barber and the seven week stretch after that.

Notes

“I love it. Pure racing.” Theo Pourchaire after the race.

Theo Pourchaire would have been the start of the show today had it not been for the dramatic finish. The F2 champion, who’s first time in an Indycar was Friday afternoon, finished 11th. He drove a steady race. I hope we see him again soon. Maybe next weekend?

Arrow McLaren once again had trouble staying out of their own way. Pato O’Ward ran into teammate Alexander Rossi on lap, forcing Rossi to pit. O’Ward received a drive through penalty and was virtually not heard from the rest of the day. Rossi fought back to earn a 10th place finish.

Don’t count Alex Palou out of the title hunt. In 2023 Palou finished eighth at St. Petet and fifth at barber. In 2024 he was sixth at barber and he finished third today. Palou is fourth in the standings, just 24 points behind Newgarden.

Rosenqvist Wins Long Beach Pole

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Photo by Kyle McInnes

It was only a matter of time before Felix Rosenqvist would win a pole this season. That time was 39 ten thousandths of a second. Rosenqvist nipped Will Power by that much and will start the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach at the front of the field.

In the three Indycar events in 2024, Rosenqvist started second at St. Pete, Was on the pole for his heat race and the front row of the feature at Thermal, and now has his third front row start of the season. Rosenqvist now has six career poles. Today’s pole is the first for Meyer Shank Racing

It has been quite a resurgence for Rosenqvist this year. He has been in contention in every event. His switch to Meyer Shank Racing after some frustrating years at Arrow McLaren has rejuvenated the Swedish driver.

Will Power came back after a disastrous morning practice session. He brushed the wall and damaged the left rear tire and underwing. Power returned only to make nose first contact with the wall and cause a red flag with a bit less than nine minutes left.

Notes

The anticipated three Penskes versus three Andrettis didn’t materialize. Team Penske had just Will Power and Josef Newgarden in the final round. Colton Herta and Marcus Ericsson made the fast Six for Andretti.

Rosenqvist and Alex Palou were the only preliminary round leaders to make the final session.

Team Penske did not lead any sessions this weekend, but they could lead the one that counts the most tomorrow.

Pato O’Ward’s fade from leading Friday’s practice is puzzling. Are we looking at another year of unfilled promise from Arrow McLaren? Alexander Rossi is the team’s highest starter tomorrow in 13th.

The Long Beach Grand Prix released a notice announcing that all reserved seats for tomorrow’s race have been sold. Only general admission is available.

Tomorrow’s schedule in Eastern time:

Noon- Warm up (30 Minutes) Peacock

3 pm- Televison network coverage USA, Peacock

3:30- Green flag