Yahoo Autos What to Watch: IndyCar Celebrates Its 40th Event at Long Beach—America's Mini-Monaco
IndyCar took over the Grand Prix of Long Beach in 1984, and the race for decades has been a highlight of the open-wheel season.
Many consider the race at Long Beach the second jewel of the IndyCar schedule, second only to the Indianapolis 500.
Kyle Kirkwood started on the pole for last year’s Long Beach race and led 53 of the 85 laps on the way to his first series victory.
Event founder Chris Pook envisioned the Grand Prix of Long Beach as a mini-Monaco—a race and a party on a seaside circuit that would spotlight the roar of engines and the scenery of southern California.
It all started in 1975, Pook putting together a Formula 5000 race for the opener. He got considerable help from Dan Gurney, whose name gave the event instant cachet and was a big selling point in discussions with area government officials. Brian Redman won the first race.
The next year, Long Beach moved onto the Formula 1 schedule, and the event began building its reputation as a must-see. Expenses climbed dramatically through the years, however, and Formula 1 eventually moved on.
IndyCar took over the show in 1984, and the race for decades has been a highlight of the open-wheel season, second only to May and all that Indianapolis Motor Speedway has in store.
The anticipation for Long Beach is multiplied by the fact that IndyCar hasn’t had a points race since the season-opener March 10 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. Josef Newgarden won, showing Penske strength out of the gate.
Teams competed in an exhibition event at the Thermal Club in California March 24, but this weekend’s activity at Long Beach will spin the series into high gear. Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama will host the third race April 28 as a prelude to the month of May at Indy.
The Long Beach course stretches 1.968 miles through 11 turns and sends drivers along Shoreline Drive and around the Long Beach Convention Center. Palm trees will sway, drinks will be served, there will be sunbathing and people-watching, and, oh by the way, there will be a race.
Practice is scheduled to begin Friday. Qualifying is Saturday, and the 85-lap race is set for 3 p.m. (ET) Sunday.
“Long Beach is very tough because it has a massive variation of high speed and low speeds,” Graham Rahal said. “The hairpin turn is one of the lowest of the year. And the fountain turn is very slow. But Turn 9 at the end of the backstraight is very fast, and Turn 1 and Turn 4 are quick. Turn 4 tests your corner exit, and Turn 5 is extremely bumpy.”
Andretti driver Kyle Kirkwood started on the pole for last year’s Long Beach race and led 53 of the 85 laps on the way to his first series victory. Following were Romain Grosjean and Marcus Ericsson.
Sunday’s race will mark IndyCar’s 40th event at Long Beach.
What To Watch at Long Beach
(Courtesy of IndyCar)
