Ticket sales up for Long Beach race

The blending of Champ Car World Series into the Indy Racing League in February has already had a positive influence on the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, which on April 19 will run for the 35th time on the streets of Long Beach.

Jim Michaelian, CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, this week said ticket renewal sales are up from last year, current economic circumstances notwithstanding.

"There is much stronger, much greater stability," Michaelian said about the unified IRL coming to town. "There is no question as to who is coming, how many are coming. Now there is some continuity. There is a recognition as to who the players are. We were very interested to see how the renewals would go.

"If you were buying a ticket before (the merger), let's be honest, you weren't sure how many cars were coming, which drivers."

The mix of former Champ Car drivers now in the IRL – such as Graham Rahal, Will Power and Justin Wilson – as well as veteran IRL drivers Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Marco Andretti, Tony Kanaan, Dan Wheldon and Danica Patrick – give the IRL lots of star power.

Castroneves may not be around come April, however. He was recently indicted on tax evasion and tax fraud charges. If convicted, he faces prison time.

"He is one of our top stars, arguably our top star," Terry Angstadt, president of the commercial division for IRL, said Thursday during a luncheon at Shoreline Village. "Absolutely, it will have an effect if Castroneves is otherwise occupied." Long Beach Press Telegram