Mario Andretti on his way to winning the 1987 Long Beach GP. Andretti's Engineer - none other than Adrian Newey
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IndyCar: Historic IndyCars Added to 2024 GP of Long Beach

Posted by AR1 staff

The 2024 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will reflect on its racing history when the Indy cars of the past take the green flag in the Historic Indy Car Challenge during the April 19-21 race weekend.

Twin 20-minute races will run Saturday, April 20 along with the IMSA WeatherTech Championship race and Sunday, April 21, the same day as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES race.

Long Beach famously switched from Formula 1 to Indy cars in 1984 and the inaugural winner was Mario Andretti, who would go on to win “America’s #1 Street Race” twice more in Indy cars (1985 and ’87). Also in the 1980s, Al Unser Jr. began his reign as “King of the Beach,” with wins in 1988 and ’89, on his way to an incredible six victories in eight years and remains the all-time leader in Long Beach wins. Michael Andretti (1986) also earned his first career win during that period.

1987 CART IndyCar - Mario Andretti talks to his engineer Adrian Newey - today he is Red Bull's F1 design boss
1987 CART IndyCar – Mario Andretti talks to his engineer Adrian Newey – today he is Red Bull’s F1 design boss

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

“When I first wanted to invite the historic Indy cars, I was thinking about the first – and only – time I saw the turbine car at Riverside. It just blew my mind,” recalled HMSA President Cris Vandagriff. “This is our opportunity to bring Indy cars that haven’t been seen on the West Coast since then, and I’m looking forward to it.”

“What a thrill it will be to see and hear these fabulous historic Indy cars competing again on our downtown circuit next April,” said Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President and CEO Jim Michaelian. “For many this will be a first-time experience and for others it will certainly bring back delightful memories.”

The 2024 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach race weekend will be led by the third rounds of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES on Sunday, April 21 and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on Saturday, April 20. Support races will include two rounds of SRO America’s GT America, Robby Gordon’s Stadium SUPER Trucks, the Super Drift Challenge on Friday and Saturday nights, and Historic Indy Car Challenge.

Off the track and free to all race attendees will be the popular Lifestyle Expo with more than 100 exhibitors offering the latest products and services in automotive, travel, home improvement, green power, fitness and recreation as well as the large Family Fun Zone in the Long Beach Arena. There will also be concerts, food trucks, exotic car displays and a wide variety of activities for the whole family.

Fans that attended the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in 2023 will have the opportunity to renew their ticket orders for 2024 starting Monday, Oct. 9. On Nov. 13, Acura Grand Prix tickets will go on sale to the public.

Ticket prices range from $40 for a Friday General Admission ticket to $185 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 2024 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach by downloading the Official app on the Apple App Store or Google Play for Android, or tune in via social channels on Facebook (GrandPrixLB), X (formerly Twitter) @GPLongBeach (#AGPLB) and Instagram @GPLongBeach.