by Kevin Wilkerson | Photos Via Grand Prix Association of Long Beach - 02/27/2023
When it comes to great American races, the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500 likely first come to mind but there is a third that is nearly equal in stature.
It is the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, which in 2023 will be the 48th race. When the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and cars from other racing organizations turn their wheels from April 14-16 they will be running on city streets that have hosted F1 races and nearly every legendary open-wheel driver the sport has ever produced. Mario Andretti; Emerson Fittipaldi; Danny Sullivan; Alex Zanardi; Al Unser, Jr; and Bobby Rahal have all raced there, and had Mario not won in 1977 when the event was in its infancy and in dire financial trouble, it may not have lasted five years, let alone 48.
But he did win and the future of this great American street race was secure. Among the drivers taking to the scenic streets – the front straight, Shoreline Drive, is lined with palm trees with a marina and the Queen Mary in the background, making for a scene rivaled only by that of F1’s Monaco – this year are second-generation drivers Graham Rahal up-an-coming star Colin Herta, son of former IndyCar driver Bryan. The field also has four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves, six-time series champion Scott Dixon and defending Long Beah winner Joseph Newgarden.
This year’s event features the NTT INDYCAR SERIES; the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship with the super high-tech GTP series that was the centerpiece of the series back in the 80s and 90s; the Super Drift Challenge in which judges grade on style as cars slide through tight; the wild SPEED/UTV Stadium SUPER Trucks in which trucks fly off ramps and bash each other around turns; the Porsche Carrera Cup North America; and the Historic F1 Challenge with vintage Formula One cars from the 1970s and 1980s, many of which raced at Long Beach in its F1 days.
There are several ways to experience the Grand Prix this coming April 14th-16th, the most exclusive being the hospitality clubs that include food and drinks ($760-$1,125 for three days). The Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Turn One Club ($260) and the C300 Club ($390 for three days) are also a step above the grandstand and General Admission tickets.
Reserved grandstand seats are open Fridays, cost $84 on Saturday and $92 and $107 on Sunday with all three days selling for $124 and $175 and General Admission tickets are $38 for Friday, $77 Saturday, $82 on Sunday and $112 for all three days.
Gearheads can get a paddock pass ($30 per day or $70 for three days) to get up close to the IndyCar cars and see the crew working on them between on-track sessions. A Super Photo ticket with access to exclusive photo areas is $340.
Race information, along with on-and-off track activities and ticket purchases, can be found at Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (gplb.com).
Kevin Wilkerson has been involved in the Long Beach Grand Prix for nearly 20 years in several capacities. He publishes the lifestyle website PubClub.com.
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