Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in Los Angeles

What is this Race?

The Grand Prix of Long Beach (Acura Grand Prix) is an IndyCar Series race held on a street circuit in Long Beach, California. For most of its history, the race has traditionally been held in April. It is one of the longest-running events and is considered the most prestigious event on the circuit.

The noise in the streets may disappear, but the biggest event of the year in Long Beach, the Grand Prix of Long Beach, continues to grow. Over the past year, the race attracted around 185,000 guests, the highest attendance in 20 years.

Features of the Event

According to a study conducted last year by Beacon Economics, this event has the highest revenue for the city. In Long Beach alone, it generates about $32 million, and millions more in the surrounding cities. Every year, Californians eagerly await this event. It's an opportunity to show the world that Long Beach is a great place to live and have fun.

The racecourse is a temporary track spanning three kilometers, laid out on the city streets surrounding the Long Beach Convention Center. The track is known for its final section — a sharp turn followed by a long, slightly curved segment along Shoreline Drive. The track is located on the Long Beach waterfront and is lined with palm trees, creating a picturesque setting.

History of the Race

The Grand Prix of Long Beach began in 1975 as a Formula 5000 race, the brainchild of promoter Chris Pook, a former travel agent from England. Inspired by the Monaco Grand Prix, Pook believed a similar event could be successful in Southern California. He chose the city of Long Beach, about 40 km south of Los Angeles. Although the area was a depressed industrial port town at the time, the first event attracted 30,000 fans.

Despite exciting races and high attendance, the event was not financially successful as a Formula 1 event. The promoter risked a modest profit of $100,000 against a budget of $6-7 million. Fearing that one bad year could lead to bankruptcy, Pook convinced officials to switch the race to the CART series starting in 1984.

In a short time, the event gained prominence on the IndyCar circuit and is credited with the renaissance of not only the event but the city itself. The race began to generate substantial profits, and over the years, many dilapidated buildings were replaced with high-rise hotels and tourist attractions.

Interesting Facts about the Race

• The Grand Prix is the largest event in the city of Long Beach. Weekend attendance regularly reaches 200,000 people.
• John Watson's win for McLaren in 1983 holds the Formula 1 record for the lowest starting position for a race winner. In a grid of 26 cars, Watson started 22nd in his McLaren Ford. Teammate Niki Lauda finished second after starting 23rd.
• René Arnoux, who finished third in his Ferrari 126C2B, was the only driver ever to place in the top three at Long Beach in a turbocharged car.
• Toyota was a sponsor of the event from its inception and the title sponsor from 1980 to 2018, making it the longest-running sports sponsorship in the USA.
• The event features top stars from film, television, and sports. Celebrities such as George Lucas, Ashley Judd, Josh Brolin, and Robin Yount have participated in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race.
• In 2019, Acura, the luxury brand of Honda, became the title sponsor of the Grand Prix of Long Beach. This move was part of a broader marketing strategy to promote its cars and strengthen the brand in the USA. The race's name was changed to the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, highlighting the partnership and attracting additional attention to the event.
• The collaboration with Acura brought new opportunities and resources to the Grand Prix of Long Beach. The company invested significant funds in improving infrastructure and creating comfortable conditions for spectators. This included upgrading the grandstands, improving the paddock area, and implementing new technologies to ensure the safety and comfort of participants and spectators.
• Acura also actively uses the Grand Prix of Long Beach as a platform to promote its latest models and technologies. Exhibitions and test drives of cars are regularly held at the event, allowing visitors to get to know the brand's products better.