IndyCar: Historic Formula 1 Challenge Added to Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach!

Formula 1 will return to the streets of Long Beach when the Historic Formula 1 Challenge, featuring classic F1 machines from the 1970s and 1980s, gives race fans a double dose of nostalgia at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 14-16.

Twin 20-minute races will run Saturday, April 15 along with the IMSA WeatherTech Championship race and Sunday, April 16, the same day as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES race.

Mario Andretti’s John Player Lotus, winner of the 1977 Grand Prix of Long Beach, which is expected to be in the Historic F1 Challenge field. Credit: Grand Prix Association of Long Beach.

Formula 1 ran for eight years in Long Beach, from 1976-83, and the “who’s who” list of winners during those years includes Mario Andretti (1977), Niki Lauda (1981), Nelson Piquet (1980), Clay Regazzoni (1976) and Gilles Villeneuve (1979). Andretti’s 1977 John Player Lotus, along with Andrea de Cesaris’ 1982 pole-winning Alfa Romeo and Keke Rosberg’s Williams FW08 are expected to be in the field, along with other famous F1 marques that include Shadow, Penske, Wolf, McLaren, March and Surtees.

The historic event at Long Beach will be sanctioned by the Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA).

“We’re assembling a really great field of classic F1 cars for Long Beach,” said Cris Vandagriff, president of the HMSA. “These cars will always be a part of this event’s history and heritage and it’s going to be a pleasure to see them race twice during the weekend.”

“It’s going to be great to see these incredible machines back on the streets of Long Beach,” said Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President and CEO Jim Michaelian. “For those of you who were here during those early years, it’s going to be very nostalgic and for those who weren’t, you’ll get a taste of what F1 was like back then.”

The 2023 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will be headlined by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, as well as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. In addition, the weekend will include the Super Drift Challenge under the lights on Friday and Saturday nights plus doubleheader action from Robby Gordon’s SPEED/UTV Stadium Super Trucks, Porsche Carrera Cup North America and the Historic F1 Challenge.

Fans that attended the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in 2022 will have the opportunity to renew their ticket orders for 2023 starting Oct. 24. On Nov. 28, Acura Grand Prix tickets will go on sale to the general public.

Ticket prices range from $38 for a Friday General Admission ticket to $175 for a three-day ticket that includes Sat./Sun. reserved seating in grandstand upper levels. Pre-paid parking packages are also available, along with handicapped seating, NTT INDYCAR SERIES Paddock passes, Super Photo tickets, and a wide variety of hospitality packages.

Fans can also follow the 2023 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Facebook (GrandPrixLB), Twitter @GPLongBeach (#AGPLB), and Instagram @GPLongBeach.