Long Beach Grand Prix

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For the Formula One race, see United States Grand Prix West.

The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is the premier circuit in the Champ Car World Series. It is the first event in the World Series each year, and is an open-wheel race held on a temporary road course. The Grand Prix is also the longest running major "street" race held on the North American continent, having completed its 32nd event. Attendance for the weekend regularly reaches or exceeds 200,000 people.

The Long Beach Grand Prix in April is the single largest event in Long Beach. It started in 1975 as a Formula 5000 race on the streets of downtown, and became a Formula One the following year. Since 1984 it has been a Champ Car event. During the same week as the Grand Prix, there are also Trans-Am, and Toyota Atlantic races, plus an Historic Grand Prix features pre-1990 cars, and the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race. The Toyota Celica was often used as race cars in the Pro/Celebrity Race from late 1970s to 2005, and replaced by Scion tC in 2006. The Celica All-trac Turbo was a Pace Car in the Grand Prix of Long Beach from 1988 to 1992.

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

Long Beach street circuit

1 Events
- 1.1 The track
- 1.2 Drifting
2 Previous winners
3 External links

[edit] Events

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

Although the Champ Car World Series 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. For 2007, the American Le Mans Series will replace Grand-Am. Other races include the Champ Car Atlantic Championship and the popular Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. Additionally, a week of fairs, music, and promotional activities is held.

[edit] The track

The current race circuit is a 1.968-mile 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Previous winners

[edit] Formula 5000 history

Year	Driver	Constructor
1975	Brian Redman	Lola-Chevrolet

[edit] Formula One history

Year	Driver	Constructor	Report
1976	Clay Regazzoni	Ferrari	Report
1977	Mario Andretti	Lotus-Ford	Report
1978	Carlos Reutemann	Ferrari	Report
1979	Gilles Villeneuve	Ferrari	Report
1980	Nelson Piquet	Brabham-Ford	Report
1981	Alan Jones	Williams-Ford	Report
1982	Niki Lauda	McLaren-Ford	Report
1983	John Watson	McLaren-Ford	Report

[edit] Champ Car history

Season	Winning Driver	Chassis	Engine
1984	Mario Andretti	Lola	Cosworth
1985	Mario Andretti	Lola	Cosworth
1986	Michael Andretti	March	Cosworth
1987	Mario Andretti	Lola	Chevrolet-Ilmor
1988	Al Unser Jr.	March	Chevrolet-Ilmor
1989	Al Unser Jr.	Lola	Chevrolet-Ilmor
1990	Al Unser Jr.	Lola	Chevrolet-Ilmor
1991	Al Unser Jr.	Lola	Chevrolet-Ilmor
1992	Danny Sullivan	Galmer	Chevrolet-Ilmor
1993	Paul Tracy	Penske	Chevrolet-Ilmor
1994	Al Unser Jr.	Penske	Ilmor
1995	Al Unser Jr.	Penske	Mercedes-Benz-Ilmor
1996	Jimmy Vasser	Reynard	Honda
1997	Alex Zanardi	Reynard	Honda
1998	Alex Zanardi	Reynard	Honda
1999	Juan Montoya	Reynard	Honda
2000	Paul Tracy	Reynard	Honda
2001	Helio Castroneves	Reynard	Honda
2002	Michael Andretti	Reynard	Honda
2003	Paul Tracy	Lola	Ford-Cosworth
2004	Paul Tracy	Lola	Ford-Cosworth
2005	Sébastien Bourdais	Lola	Ford-Cosworth
2006	Sébastien Bourdais	Lola	Ford-Cosworth