Sir Patrick Stewart to serve as Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach grand marshal

Acclaimed stage and screen actor Sir Patrick Stewart will serve as grand marshal for the Verizon IndyCar Series race on April 19 at the 41st Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Stewart is a racing enthusiast who competed in the 2002 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race on the streets of Long Beach. Best known for his roles in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and the X-Men franchise, Stewart returns to series television later this year starring as the title character in "Blunt Talk."

Former Indy car driver Adrian Fernandez, who is enshrined on the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame, will be the honorary starter.