Overheard at Long Beach – Friday Morning
The talk in the paddock is still around the aero kits, however, here at Long Beach Honda will not be at as much of a disadvantage because this track puts a premium on mechanical grip. Of course there are two camps – the Chevy camp who says "we beat you fair and square, stop whining Honda teams and work harder to catch us" – and the Honda camp who says "the aero kits are a waste of money and have made the racing worse, we should get rid of them."
The financial bloodbath in Boston is on a lot of people's mind with reports the organizers have to pay $16M to the city for services before they spend a dime on IndyCar sanction fee, grandstands, suites, walls, fences, tire barriers salaries, advertising, etc. The costs are enormous and they are going to have to sell a lot of sponsorship, suites and seats to pay for this event. Clearly the city is not 'teaming' with the race to make it successful. If they were they would be supplying some of the city services for free. It's a formula for failure.
We hear that Tony Cotman, who was hired to design and setup the track, does not even know where his checks are coming from. Some people think the race will come off this year to save face, but the financial bloodbath will be so bad the race will never happen again. Mark Perrone is going to have to pull off a miracle to make the event a success.
We talked to Katherine Legge at the local restaurant last night and she confirmed her Indy 500 deal is probably dead. She was dining with her father Derek.
It’s the 40th and final time pros and celebrities tussle against each other on Saturday around the streets of Long Beach. Sam Posey won the inaugural race in 1977, in case you forgot, but it’s been Al Unser Jr. who has experience the greatest success
He’s a six-time winner of the Indy car feature (accomplished in eight years) and also has taken the checkered flag three times in the Pro-Celebrity exhibition. He made his debut in the special race in 1985, at age 22, and drove to the winner’s circle. Upon his retirement, Little Al won the celebrity race in 2009 and 2014.
No wonder he’s been called "King of the Beach."
Robby Gordon’s Speed Energy Stadium Super Trucks series will race twice during the weekend. The first race is Saturday at 1:05 p.m. while Sunday’s 4:05 event will conclude the racing.
More later……
Today's Schedule (All times Pacific – Local)
7:40 a.m. – 9:40 a.m. IMSA Practice
8:00 a.m. Lifestyle Expo Opens
10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. IndyCar Practice P1
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pro/Celebrity Practice
12:20 p.m. – 12:40 p.m. Stadium Super Trucks Practice
2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. IndyCar Practice P2
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Pro/Celebrity Qualifying
3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. World Challenge Practice
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. IndyCar Autograph Session
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. IMSA Qualifying
6:00 p.m. Lifestyle Expo Closes
6:45 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Tecate Light Fiesta Friday Concert
7:00 p.m. Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach Monte Carlo Night at Renaissance Hotel
7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. Super Drift Challenge Practice
7:45 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Super Drift Challenge Qualifying
Mark Cipolloni and Lucille Dust reporting from Long Beach