Outside of the Indianapolis 500, the NTT IndyCar Series’ annual trip to Long Beach, Calif., for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach has become a spectacle of its own.
For the 48th time, the Grand Prix of Long Beach commences on the 1.968-mile street circuit 30 minutes south of Los Angeles.
One street race has been contested so far this season, the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Florida. Reigning Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson stole the win from Pato O’Ward in the closing laps, kickstarting the Chip Ganassi Racing driver’s season.
With two races in the books this season, it remains difficult to predict who may have the upper hand in Long Beach.
Quick Facts
Distance: 85 Laps / 167.28 miles
Qualifying Record: Colton Herta, 1:05.3095, 108.480 mph, April 9, 2022
Most Race Leaders: Eight, April 5, 1998
Most Wins: Al Unser Jr. (6)
Conor Daly is scheduled to make his 100th IndyCar Series start on Sunday.
Is It Newgarden’s Race To Lose?
Fresh off his thrilling victory two weeks ago at Texas Motor Speedway, Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden roars into Long Beach as the defending race winner.
Josef Newgarden after his win in Long Beach last season. (Al Steinberg Photo)
Coincidently, the driver of the No. 2 Chevrolet is looking to go back-to-back for the second year in a row, after winning at Texas and Long Beach in consecutive races last season.
Newgarden has been stout at Long Beach, boasting an average finish of 4.6 in his last seven starts dating back to 2015. Last year, the 32-year-old led a race-high 32 laps.
Newgarden is fourth in the standings, 16 markers behind points leader O’Ward.
Herta Hoping To Right A Wrong
One of Indy car racing’s more electrifying athletes, Colton Herta, was the driver to beat in last season’s Grand Prix of Long Beach after he earned the pole and set the early pace.
However, Herta’s surge for a homestate victory was cut short after the 23-year-old California native locked up the tires and slammed into the wall with 29 laps to go.
Still, the driver of the No. 26 Andretti Autosport Honda knows what it takes to win on the streets of Long Beach. In 2021, Herta led more than half the event en route to a victory in a race that was moved to the end of the season because of the pandemic.
Beginning at Texas earlier this month, Herta has a new strategist atop the pit box in Scott Harner. Previously, Herta’s father, former driver Bryan Herta, called Herta’s strategy.
Will Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Hot Start Continue?
It’s difficult to find a more surprising team on the IndyCar grid this year than Juncos Hollinger Racing.
Callum Ilott on track at St. Petersburg. (Penske Entertainment/Joe Skibinski)
Through the first two races of action, JHR’s second-year star Callum Ilott hasn’t finished outside the top 10, with a best finish of fifth in the opener at Florida’s Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
Argentinian rookie racer Augustin Canapino has impressed despite limited open-wheel experience.
The 33-year-old has a pair of 12th-place results to begin the season, and currently sits 12th in points, ahead of veterans Graham Rahal, Romain Grosjean and Helio Castroneves.
Both cars have shown exceptional pace and will look to break the team’s bad luck at Long Beach, where Ilott has two DNF’s.
The GP of Long Beach bodes well for the team, which looks to score their first win as an organization in the series. Drivers like Mike Conway, Takuma Sato and Ryan Hunter-Reay all scored their first career wins at the historic race.
Grosjean Looks To Break Through
The taste of victory in the IndyCar Series has eluded Grosjean thus far in his second full-time season. However, the stars may align for the Andretti Autosport driver this weekend.
Two weeks ago in Texas, the 36-year-old was in contention for a victory, but lost control of his No. 28 DHL Honda, bringing out the caution flag that ended the race.
Last year at Long Beach, Grosjean made a late-race charge to finish second.
This time around, Grosjean will look to be cruising down Shoreline Drive to the checkered flag, one spot better.
Keyword: IndyCar Notes: A Spectacle In Long Beach