IndyCar News: 2024 Acura GP of Long Beach Preview
This weekend’s 49th running of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is the first race in a back-to-back sequence for the NTT IndyCar series, with the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix powered by AmFirst at Barber Motorsports Park following on Sunday, April 28. The season really gets intense after that.
Since 2008 only Alexander Rossi has been able to back up one Long Beach GP win with another – he did it in 2018-19.
Kyle Kirkwood has the potential to double down after scoring his first INDYCAR SERIES victory at Long Beach last season. Kirkwood, who scored two wins on street courses in 2023, hopes to rekindle his street-course magic this weekend. Can the rising star score back-to-back wins at Long Beach?
Except for Alexander Rossi’s wins in 2018-19 and Kyle Kirkwood’s win from pole last season, the top spot has not been the place to start at Long Beach.
Just six drivers have ever won Long Beach from the top spot, and while pole sitters have scored podium finishes in recent races, they’ve also finished 15th or worse just as often (Colton Herta – 23rd in 2022, Ryan Hunter-Reay – 20th in 2014, Dario Franchitti – 15th in 2012 and Justin Wilson – 19th in 2008).
Scott McLaughlin and Colton Herta are the only drivers so far this season to finish in the top five in both of this season’s racing events. McLaughlin has podium finishes at St. Petersburg and the non-championship race at The Thermal Club, while Herta has finishes of fifth (St. Pete) and fourth (Thermal).
Keeping that mark could be a challenge for both. McLaughlin has only one top 10 at Long Beach (10th in 2023) in three previous starts while Herta has an average finish of 12.75 despite a pair of top-five finishes.
Acura GP of Long Beach Track Map
New Aeroscreen rolls out at Acura GP of Long Beach
An updated, lightweight aeroscreen featuring vents for increased cooling and 3D printed in rubber to prevent hand injuries also will debut at Long Beach this weekend.
The revised aeroscreen will also drop the total system weight reduction by 11.1 pounds, which reduces downforce by approximately 35 pounds.
As was used in St. Petersburg, the field again will be split into two groups for the opening 75-minute practice.
Following the 45-minute “All Cars” session, each group – split by odd and even numbered pit boxes – will receive a 10-minute segment. As in qualifying, the clock in Segments One and Two will stop for the first red flag condition of each practice segment. Rookie drivers are permitted to participate in both group sessions, regardless of group. Teams are welcome to use a set of alternate tires at their discretion. The update comes after a collaboration with teams and drivers.
What: 49th edition of the Grand Prix of Long beach
When: Friday-Sunday
Where: Streets of Long Beach
Reigning champion: Kyle Kirkwood
Most wins: Al Unser Jr. 6, Mario Andretti 4, Paul Tracy 4, Sebastien Bourdais 3.
Acura GP of Long Beach Entry List
|
CAR |
DRIVER |
HOMETOWN |
CAR NAME |
TEAM |
ENGINE |
|
|
1 |
2 |
Josef Newgarden |
Nashville, Tennessee |
Hitachi Team Penske |
Team Penske |
Chevrolet |
|
2 |
3 |
Scott McLaughlin |
Christchurch, New Zealand |
Odyssey Battery Team Penske |
Team Penske |
Chevrolet |
|
3 |
4 |
Kyffin Simpson (R) |
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands |
Journie Rewards Chip Ganassi Racing |
Chip Ganassi Racing |
Honda |
|
4 |
5 |
Pato O’Ward |
Monterrey, Mexico |
Arrow McLaren |
Arrow McLaren |
Chevrolet |
|
5 |
6 |
Théo Pourchaire (R) |
Grasse, France |
Arrow McLaren |
Arrow McLaren |
Chevrolet |
|
6 |
7 |
Alexander Rossi |
Nevada City, California |
Arrow McLaren |
Arrow McLaren |
Chevrolet |
|
7 |
8 |
Linus Lundqvist (R) |
Stockholm, Sweden |
American Legion Unfrosted |
Chip Ganassi Racing |
Honda |
|
8 |
9 |
Scott Dixon |
Auckland, New Zealand |
PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing |
Chip Ganassi Racing |
Honda |
|
9 |
10 |
Alex Palou |
Barcelona, Spain |
DHL Chip Ganassi Racing |
Chip Ganassi Racing |
Honda |
|
10 |
11 |
Marcus Armstrong |
Christchurch, New Zealand |
Ridgeline Lubricants Chip Ganassi Racing |
Chip Ganassi Racing |
Honda |
|
11 |
12 |
Will Power |
Toowoomba, Australia |
Verizon Business Team Penske |
Team Penske |
Chevrolet |
|
12 |
14 |
Santino Ferrucci |
Woodbury, Connecticut |
AJ FOYT RACING / SEXTON PROPERTIES |
A.J. Foyt Enterprises |
Chevrolet |
|
13 |
15 |
Graham Rahal |
New Albany, Ohio |
Fleet Cost & Care |
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing |
Honda |
|
14 |
18 |
Jack Harvey |
Bassingham, England |
Dale Coyne Racing |
Dale Coyne Racing |
Honda |
|
15 |
20 |
Christian Rasmussen (R) |
Copenhagen, Denmark |
Guy Care |
Ed Carpenter Racing |
Chevrolet |
|
16 |
21 |
Rinus VeeKay |
Hoofddorp, Netherlands |
Ed Carpenter Racing |
Ed Carpenter Racing |
Chevrolet |
|
17 |
26 |
Colton Herta |
Valencia, California |
Gainbridge |
Andretti Global w/ Curb-Agajanian |
Honda |
|
18 |
27 |
Kyle Kirkwood |
Jupiter, Florida |
AutoNation |
Andretti Global |
Honda |
|
19 |
28 |
Marcus Ericsson |
Kumla, Sweden |
Delaware Life |
Andretti Global |
Honda |
|
20 |
30 |
Pietro Fittipaldi |
Miami, Florida |
Oakberry PneuStore |
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing |
Honda |
|
21 |
41 |
Sting Ray Robb |
Payette, Idaho |
AJ FOYT RACING / PRAY.COM |
A.J. Foyt Enterprises |
Chevrolet |
|
22 |
45 |
Christian Lundgaard |
Hedensted, Denmark |
Hy-Vee |
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing |
Honda |
|
23 |
51 |
Nolan Siegel (R) |
Palo Alto, California |
King Taco |
Dale Coyne Racing |
Honda |
|
24 |
60 |
Felix Rosenqvist |
Värnamo, Sweden |
AutoNation/SiriusXM |
Meyer Shank Racing |
Honda |
|
25 |
66 |
Tom Blomqvist (R) |
Cambridge, England |
AutoNation/Arctic Wolf |
Meyer Shank Racing |
Honda |
|
26 |
77 |
Romain Grosjean |
Geneva, Switzerland |
Juncos Hollinger Racing |
Juncos Hollinger Racing |
Chevrolet |
|
27 |
78 |
Agustin Canapino |
Arrecifes, Argentina |
Juncos Hollinger Racing |
Juncos Hollinger Racing |
Chevrolet |
|
All cars use fourth-generation NTT INDYCAR SERIES chassis (Dallara IR12) with universal IR-18 aerodynamic bodywork, Chevrolet or Honda engines and Firestone tires. |
|
(R) – Denotes Rookie of the Year candidate |
Acura GP of Long Beach Race Fast Facts:
- This weekend’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will mark the 40th INDYCAR SERIES event on the historic Long Beach street circuit. Mario Andretti won the first INDYCAR SERIES race in 1984. Kyle Kirkwood won the race in 2023.
- Three California natives are entered: 2018 and 2019 race winner Alexander Rossi is a native of Nevada City, while Andretti Autosport’s Colton Herta hails from Valencia. Rookie Nolan Siegel, the INDY NXT by Firestone points leader, is making his first official NTT INDYCAR SERIES start at Long Beach. The 19-year-old driver hails from Palo Alto.
- Al Unser Jr. has won the most times at Long Beach (six), while Will Power and Alexander Rossi are the only entered drivers with multiple wins. Power won in 2008 and 2012, and Rossi won in 2018 and 2019. Other former race winners scheduled to compete are Scott Dixon (2015), Colton Herta (2021), Josef Newgarden (2022) and Kyle Kirkwood (2023).
- Six drivers have won the race from the pole – Mario Andretti (1984, 1985 and 1987), Al Unser Jr. (1989-90), Helio Castroneves (2001), Sebastien Bourdais (2006-07), Alexander Rossi (2018-19) and Kyle Kirkwood (2023).
- Twenty of the 27 drivers entered have competed in INDYCAR SERIES races at Long Beach. Will Power has 17 starts, the most among all entered drivers. Nine entered drivers have led laps: Power 172, Alexander Rossi 151, Scott Dixon 104, Josef Newgarden 81, Colton Herta 71, Kyle Kirkwood 53, Alex Palou 24, Graham Rahal 4 and Agustin Canapino 3.
- In addition to Siegel, four other NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookies –Tom Blomqvist, Linus Lundqvist, Christian Rasmussen and Kyffin Simpson – are expected to compete. All five rookies and Pietro Fittipaldi will be competing in their first INDYCAR SERIES race on the streets of Long Beach.
- Milestones – Josef Newgarden will attempt to make his 200th INDYCAR SERIES start at Long Beach…Newgarden needs to lead two laps to pass Tony Kanaan for 11th on the INDYCAR SERIES all-time laps-led list…Scott Dixon will look to extend his consecutive starts streak to 323 – the longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history
USA Network race telecast: 3 p.m. ET Sunday, April 21, USA Network (live). Leigh Diffey is the play-by-play announcer for NBC Sports’ coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe.
Peacock Live Streaming: All NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice sessions, qualifying and races will stream live on Peacock, NBC’s direct-to-consumer livestreaming product.
INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the chief announcer alongside analyst Davey Hamilton and turn announcers Nick Yeoman and Jake Query. Ryan Myrehn, Joel Sebastianelli and Jonathan Grace are the pit reporters. The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach race and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices and qualifying sessions air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation 218 and SiriusXM NBC Sports Audio 85, racecontrol.indycar.com and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.
Acura GP of Long Beach Weekend Schedule (Local Times)
Friday, April 19 Acura GP of Long Beach
7:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. – Spectator Gates Open
7:45-8:15 a.m. – GT America Practice #1
9-10 a.m. – IMSA Practice #1
10:15-10:35 a.m. – Historic Indy Car Practice #1
11:30 a.m.-noon – GT America Practice #2
12:15-12:35 p.m. – Stadium Super Trucks Practice #1
12:50-2:20 p.m. – IMSA Practice #2
2:50-4:05 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice #1
4:25-4:40 p.m. – GT America Qualifying
5-5:50 p.m. – IMSA Qualifying
5-6 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES All-Driver Autograph Session (INDYCAR Paddock – open to all spectators):
6:30-8:30 p.m. – Super Drift Challenge #1:
6:30-8 p.m. – Fiesta Friday Presented by Acura Starring Ape Drums
Saturday, April 20 Acura GP of Long Beach
7:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. – Spectator Gates Open
7:40-8 a.m. – Historic Indy Car Practice #2
8:25 – 9:25 a.m. – NTT IndyCar Series Practice #2:
10:30-11 a.m. – IMSA WeatherTech Autograph Session (IMSA Paddock)
10:40-11 a.m. – Historic Indy Car Challenge Race #1
11:25-12:55 p.m. – NTT IndyCar Series Qualifying & Firestone Fast 6
1-1:30 p.m. – IMSA Pre-Race
1:30-3:30 p.m. – IMSA SportsCar Grand Prix (100 min.)
4-4:30 p.m. – Stadium SUPER Trucks Race #1
4:45-5:25 p.m. – GT America Race #1
6:30-8:30 p.m. – Super Drift Challenge #2
6:30-8 p.m. – All Star Jam Concert w/Gretchen Wilson, Eddie Montgomery, David Lee Murphy and SIXWIRE
Sunday, April 21 Acura GP of Long Beach
7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. – Spectator Gates Open
9-9:30 a.m. – NTT IndyCar Series Warm-Up
10:45-11:05 a.m. – Historic Indy Car Challenge Race #2
11:10-11:20 a.m. – Acura Type S/NSX Hot Laps
11:25-11:40 a.m. – Mothers Exotic Car Parade
11:45 a.m.-12:35 p.m. – NTT IndyCar Series Pre-Race
12:35 p.m. – “Drivers, Start Your Engines!”
12:45-3 p.m. – Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (Round #2 of the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series – 85 Laps):
3:30-4 p.m. – Stadium SUPER Trucks Race #2
4:20-5 p.m. – GT America Race #2