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For the Formula One race, see United States Grand Prix West.
Long Beach Street Circuit
Long Beach
Location Long Beach, California
Active from N/A - present
Major events IRL Izod IndyCar Series
Long Beach Grand Prix
American Le Mans Series
Grand Prix of Long Beach
Surface Asphalt
Length 1.968 mi (3.167 km)
Turns 11
Lap record 1:06.886 (Sébastien Bourdais, Newman-Haas Racing, 2006, Champ Car World Series)

Template:Infobox Indycar race The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is an open-wheel race held on a street circuit in Long Beach, California. Christopher Pook is the founder and promoter which began as a vision while working at a travel agency in downtown Long Beach. It was the premier circuit in the Champ Car from 1996, and was the first event in the World Series each year from 2004. The 2008 race was the last race for Champ Cars as the series merged with the Indy Racing League,[1][2] and is now an event on the Izod IndyCar Series calendar.

The Long Beach Grand Prix in April is the single largest event in the city of Long Beach. Attendance for the weekend regularly reaches or exceeds 200,000 people.

The Long Beach Grand Prix is the longest running major "street" race held on the North American continent. It started in 1975 as a Formula 5000 race on the streets of downtown, and became a Formula One event the following year. From 1984 to 2008 it was a CART/Champ Car event. Other popular events during the Grand Prix week include a Firestone Indy Lights race, an American Le Mans Series race, and the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race.

The Long Beach Grand Prix has been announced since 1978 by Bruce Flanders (and his assorted guest announcers) and is frequently a fan favorite.

Circuit[]

The current race circuit is a 1.968-mile (3.167 km) temporary road course carved out of the city streets surrounding the Convention Center of Long Beach, California. It is particularly noted for its last section, which sees a hairpin turn followed by a long, slightly curved front straightaway which runs the length of Shoreline Drive. The circuit is situated on the Long Beach waterfront, and is lined with palm trees (especially along the front straightaway), making for a scenic track.

Events[]

Although the Izod IndyCar Series race is the main event, a number of other races are also held. On April 8, 2006, the Grand-Am Daytona Prototypes took to the streets, replacing the suspended Trans-Am Series. Beginning in 2007, the American Le Mans Series replaced Grand-Am. Other races include Indy Lights (which replaced the Atlantic Championship in 2009) and the popular Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. Additionally, a week of fairs, music, and promotional activities is held.

2008 and the Long Beach/Motegi "split weekend"[]

During negotiations which led to the merging of the Champ Car World Series and the IRL IndyCar Series, a problem came in the form of a scheduling conflict between the Champ Car race scheduled at Long Beach and the IndyCar race held at Twin Ring Motegi the same weekend. Honda, who owns the Motegi complex and also supplies equipment to the IndyCar Series, could not change their scheduled race date of April 19. Likewise, Long Beach could not change their race weekend (with the Champ Car race scheduled for April 20), such change being a difficult task considering the civil and infrastructural preparations required for a temporary street circuit.

However, all problems were resolved when the two open wheel series agreed to merge in February 2008. Tony George (president of the Indy Racing League), with Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe (the former co-owners of Champ Car) planned an unprecedented "split weekend" of races at Twin Ring Motegi and Long Beach. This compromise allowed all IRL drivers to race in Japan, while ex-Champ Car drivers raced at Long Beach. Both races counted towards the 2008 IndyCar Series Championship. The Long Beach Grand Prix allowed all Champ Car drivers to race with their turbocharged Panoz-Cosworth Champ Cars that would have been used had the merger not taken place. Long Beach/Motegi was the only split weekend of the 2008 IndyCar Series.

Drifting[]

Beginning in 2005 the event included a demonstration by participants in the Formula D drifting series, in which participants engage in controlled slides, moving their cars sideways across the track.

Winners[]

Season Date Winning Driver Chassis Engine Team Report
Formula 5000
1975 September 28 25px UK Brian Redman Lola Chevrolet Report
Formula 1
1976 March 28 25px Switzerland Clay Regazzoni Ferrari 312T2 Ferrari Scuderia Ferrari Report
1977 April 3 25px USA Mario Andretti Lotus 78 Ford Cosworth Team Lotus Report
1978 April 2 25px Argentina Carlos Reutemann Ferrari 312T3 Ferrari Scuderia Ferrari Report
1979 April 8 25px Canada Gilles Villeneuve Ferrari 312T4B Ferrari Scuderia Ferrari Report
1980 March 30 25px Brazil Nelson Piquet Brabham BT49 Ford Cosworth Brabham Report
1981 March 15 25px Australia Alan Jones Williams FW07B Ford Cosworth Williams Report
1982 April 4 25px Austria Niki Lauda McLaren MP4/1B Ford Cosworth McLaren Report
1983 March 27 25px UK John Watson McLaren MP4/1C Ford Cosworth McLaren Report
CART/Champ Car
1984 March 31 25px USA Mario Andretti Lola Cosworth Newman/Haas Racing Report
1985 April 14 25px USA Mario Andretti Lola Cosworth Newman/Haas Racing Report
1986 April 13 25px USA Michael Andretti March Cosworth Kraco Racing Report
1987 April 5 25px USA Mario Andretti Lola Chevrolet-Ilmor Newman/Haas Racing Report
1988 April 17 25px USA Al Unser, Jr. March Chevrolet-Ilmor Galles Racing Report
1989 April 16 25px USA Al Unser, Jr. Lola Chevrolet-Ilmor Galles Racing Report
1990 April 22 25px USA Al Unser, Jr. Lola Chevrolet-Ilmor Galles/Kraco Racing Report
1991 April 14 25px USA Al Unser, Jr. Lola Chevrolet-Ilmor Galles/Kraco Racing Report
1992 April 12 25px USA Danny Sullivan Galmer Chevrolet-Ilmor Galles/Kraco Racing Report
1993 April 18 25px Canada Paul Tracy Penske Chevrolet-Ilmor Penske Racing Report
1994 April 17 25px USA Al Unser, Jr. Penske Ilmor Penske Racing Report
1995 April 9 25px USA Al Unser, Jr. Penske Mercedes-Benz-Ilmor Penske Racing Report
1996 April 14 25px USA Jimmy Vasser Reynard Honda Chip Ganassi Racing Report
1997 April 13 25px Italy Alex Zanardi Reynard Honda Chip Ganassi Racing Report
1998 April 5 25px Italy Alex Zanardi Reynard Honda Chip Ganassi Racing Report
1999 April 18 25px Flag of Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya Reynard Honda Chip Ganassi Racing Report
2000 April 16 25px Canada Paul Tracy Reynard Honda Team Green Report
2001 April 8 25px Brazil Hélio Castroneves Reynard Honda Penske Racing Report
2002 April 14 25px USA Michael Andretti Reynard Honda Team Green Report
2003 April 13 25px Canada Paul Tracy Lola Ford-Cosworth Forsythe Racing Report
2004 April 18 25px Canada Paul Tracy Lola Ford-Cosworth Forsythe Racing Report
2005 April 10 25px France Sébastien Bourdais Lola Ford-Cosworth Newman/Haas Racing Report
2006 April 9 25px France Sébastien Bourdais Lola Ford-Cosworth Newman/Haas Racing Report
2007 April 15 25px France Sébastien Bourdais Panoz Cosworth Newman/Haas Racing Report
2008 April 20 25px Australia Will Power Panoz Cosworth KV Racing Report
IRL IndyCar Series
2009 April 19 25px UK Dario Franchitti Dallara Honda Chip Ganassi Racing Report
2010 April 18 25px USA Ryan Hunter-Reay Dallara Honda Andretti Autosport Report
2011 April 17 25px UK Mike Conway Dallara Honda Andretti Autosport Report
2012 April 15 25px Australia Will Power Dallara Chevrolet Penske Racing Report

Atlantics/Indy Lights[]

Season Date Driver
Atlantic Championship history
1989 West April 16 25px Japan Hiro Matsushita
1990 West April 21 25px USA Mark Dismore
1991 April 14 25px USA Jimmy Vasser
1992 April 10 25px USA Mark Dismore
1993 April 17 25px Canada Claude Bourbonnais
1994 April 17 25px USA Richie Hearn
1995 April 17 25px Canada David Empringham
1996 April 13 25px USA Case Montgomery
1997 April 12 25px Canada Alex Tagliani
1998 April 4 25px USA Memo Gidley
1999 April 17 25px Canada Alex Tagliani
2000 April 15 25px USA Buddy Rice
2001 April 8 25px Canada David Rutledge
2002 April 14 25px Canada Michael Valiante
2003 April 13 25px USA A. J. Allmendinger
2004 April 18 25px UK Ryan Dalziel
2005 April 10 25px UK Katherine Legge
2006 April 9 25px Germany Andreas Wirth
2007 April 15 25px Brazil Raphael Matos
2008 April 20 25px Switzerland Simona de Silvestro
Season Date Driver
Indy Lights history
1989 April 16 25px Flag of Ireland Tommy Byrne
1990 April 22 25px Canada Paul Tracy
1991 April 14 25px Belgium Eric Bachelart
1992 April 12 25px France Franck Freon
1993 April 18 25px UK Steve Robertson
1994 April 17 25px UK Steve Robertson
1995 April 9 25px Canada Greg Moore
1996 April 14 25px Canada David Empringham
1997 April 13 25px Brazil Hélio Castroneves
1998 April 5 25px Brazil Cristiano da Matta
1999 April 18 25px Austria Philipp Peter
2000 April 16 25px New Zealand Scott Dixon
2001 April 8 25px USA Townsend Bell
2002-2008: No races held
2009 April 19 25px USA J. R. Hildebrand
2010 April 18 25px Canada James Hinchcliffe

American Le Mans Series / Grand-Am / IMSA[]

IMSA GT Championship
Year GTO GTU Report
1990 25px USA Dorsey Schroeder
Mercury Cougar
|| 25px USA John Finger
Mazda MX-6 || || || report
1991 25px New Zealand Steve Millen
Nissan 300ZX
|| 25px USA John Fergus
Dodge Daytona || || || report
Rolex Sports Car Series
Year DP Report
2006 25px USA Scott Pruett
25px Mexico Luis Díaz
Riley Mk XX-Lexus
|| || || || report
American Le Mans Series
Year LMP1 LMP2 GT1 GT2 Report
2007 25px Italy Rinaldo Capello
25px UK Allan McNish
Audi R10 TDI
25px France Romain Dumas
25px Germany Timo Bernhard
Porsche RS Spyder
25px UK Oliver Gavin
25px Monaco Olivier Beretta
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
25px Finland Mika Salo
25px Brazil Jaime Melo
Ferrari F430GT
report
2008 25px Germany Marco Werner
25px Germany Lucas Luhr
Audi R10 TDI
25px USA Scott Sharp
25px Australia David Brabham
Acura ARX-01b
25px USA Johnny O'Connell
25px Flag of Denmark Jan Magnussen
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
25px Germany Dominik Farnbacher
25px Germany Dirk Müller
Ferrari F430GT
report
2009 25px Brazil Gil de Ferran
25px France Simon Pagenaud
Acura ARX-02a
25px Mexico Adrián Fernández
25px Mexico Luis Díaz
Acura ARX-01b
25px Great Britain Oliver Gavin
25px Monaco Olivier Beretta
Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
25px USA Patrick Long
25px Germany Jörg Bergmeister
Porsche 911 GT3-RSR
report
Year LMP LMPC GT GTC Report
2010 25px Australia David Brabham
25px France Simon Pagenaud
HPD ARX-01c
25px USA Elton Julian
25px USA Gunnar Jeannette
Oreca FLM09/Chevrolet
25px USA Patrick Long
25px Germany Jörg Bergmeister
Porsche 911 GT3-RSR
25px Mexico Juan González
25px USA Butch Leitzinger
Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
report
  • Overall winners in bold
LBGP05

2005 Long Beach Grand Prix, showing turn 10 and the Long Beach skyline.

Television history[]

CART Champ Car & IRL IndyCar races

Season Date US TV channel Lap-by-lap Driver Analyst(s) Pit Reporters
1984 March 31 NBC Paul Page Johnny Rutherford Gary Gerould & Bruce Jenner
1985 April 14 NBC Paul Page Bobby Unser Gary Gerould & Bruce Jenner
1986 April 13 NBC Paul Page Unknown Gary Gerould & Bruce Jenner
1987 April 5 NBC Paul Page Jackie Stewart Gary Gerould & Bruce Jenner
1988 April 17 ABC Paul Page Bobby Unser & Sam Posey Jack Arute & Gary Gerould
1989 April 16 ABC Paul Page Bobby Unser & Sam Posey Jack Arute & Gary Gerould
1990 April 22 ABC Paul Page Bobby Unser & Sam Posey Jack Arute & Gary Gerould
1991 April 14 ABC Paul Page Bobby Unser & Sam Posey Jack Arute & Gary Gerould
1992 April 12 ABC Paul Page Bobby Unser & Sam Posey Jack Arute & Gary Gerould
1993 April 18 ABC Paul Page Bobby Unser & Sam Posey Jack Arute & Gary Gerould
1994 April 17 ABC Paul Page Bobby Unser & Sam Posey Jack Arute & Gary Gerould
1995 April 9 ABC Paul Page Bobby Unser & Sam Posey Jack Arute & Gary Gerould
1996 April 14 ABC Paul Page Danny Sullivan Jack Arute & Gary Gerould
1997 April 13 ABC Bob Varsha Danny Sullivan Gary Gerould & Jon Beekhuis
1998 April 5 ESPN Bob Varsha Danny Sullivan Gary Gerould & Jon Beekhuis
1999 April 18 ABC Paul Page Parker Johnstone Gary Gerould & Jon Beekhuis
2000 April 16 ESPN Paul Page Parker Johnstone Gary Gerould & Jon Beekhuis
2001 April 8 ABC Paul Page Parker Johnstone Gary Gerould & Jon Beekhuis
2002 April 14 Fox Bob Varsha Tommy Kendall Unknown
2003 April 13 Speed Bob Varsha Tommy Kendall Unknown
2004 April 18 Spike TV Bob Jenkins Tommy Kendall Derek Daly, Jon Beekhuis, & Chris McClure
2005 April 10 NBC Rick Benjamin Derek Daly Bill Stephens, Jon Beekhuis, Cameron Steele, & Michelle Biesner
2006 April 9 NBC Rick Benjamin Derek Daly Bill Stephens, Jon Beekhuis, Cameron Steele, & Michelle Biesner
2007 April 15 NBC Bill Weber Jon Beekhuis & Wally Dallenbach, Jr. Marty Snider & Dave Burns
2008 April 20 ESPN2 Marty Reid Scott Goodyear Jack Arute, Jamie Little, Vince Welch, & Brienne Pedigo
2009 April 19 Versus Bob Jenkins Jon Beekhuis & Robbie Buhl Jack Arute, Robbie Floyd, & Lindy Thackston
2010 April 18 Versus Bob Jenkins Jon Beekhuis & Robbie Buhl Jack Arute, Robbie Floyd, & Lindy Thackston

References[]

  1. Morales, Robert (February 27, 2008). "Champ Car finale to roar into L.B.". The Long Beach Press-Telegram. http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_8387289. Retrieved 2008-02-27. 
  2. Steven Cole Smith (2007-11-06). "Champ Car schedule "stable" for 2008". www.autoweek.com. http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071106/FREE/71106009/1015/FREE. Retrieved 2007-10-30. 

External links[]

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