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Long Beach Grand Prix
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- 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.
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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.
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.
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.
| Year | Driver | Constructor |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 |  Brian Redman |
Lola-Chevrolet |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Tracks of the Champ Car World Series |
|---|
| Current Tracks (2007)
Assen • Cleveland • Edmonton • Houston • Las Vegas • Long Beach • Mexico City • Mont-Tremblant • Phoenix • Portland • Road America • San Jose • Surfers Paradise • Toronto • Zhuhai • Zolder Former Tracks (Ovals) Former Tracks (Road Courses) Former Tracks (International) |
Current Circuits (2007)
Melbourne • Sepang • Bahrain • Catalunya • Monte Carlo • Montreal • Indianapolis • Magny-Cours • Silverstone • Nürburgring • Hungaroring • Istanbul • Monza • Spa • Fuji Speedway • Shanghai • Interlagos
Former Circuits: A1-Ring • Adelaide • Ain-Diab • Aintree • Anderstorp • AVUS • Brands Hatch • Bremgarten • Buenos Aires • Caesars Palace • Clermont-Ferrand • Dallas • Detroit • Dijon • Donington • East London • Estoril • Hockenheim • Imola • Jacarepaguá • Jarama • Jerez • Kyalami • Le Mans • Long Beach • Mexico City • Monsanto • Montjuïc • Mont-Tremblant • Mosport Park • Nivelles-Baulers • Oporto • Österreichring • Paul Ricard • Pedralbes • Pescara • Phoenix • Reims • Riverside • Rouen • Sebring • Suzuka • TI • Watkins Glen • Zandvoort • Zeltweg • Zolder