LONG BEACH, California – It’s an event that has star power, the glamour, high-speeds, spectacular settings, huge crowds and the stars of the Verizon IndyCar Series. Add it all up and the only race bigger than the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on the Verizon IndyCar Series schedule is the Indianapolis 500.
Just ask the drivers that will fight it out in Sunday’s 41st edition of North America’s most famous street race – one that rivals Formula One’s Grand Prix of Monaco as the best street races in the world.
“This race is huge,” said Team Penske driver Simon Pagenaud. “This is definitely the classic street race of the year. It’s an historical event. It is our Monaco in Formula One. I love California. It’s my favorite state. It’s a great crowd. Not only do we have IndyCars we also have sports cars here and there isn’t any better racing than what we do here this weekend.
“You can’t recreate the atmosphere, how it feels and the weather. It’s Long Beach, California – definitely the most glamorous place we go to.
Sebastien Bourdais of France has won this race three times. He attempts to drive to his fourth victory at Long Beach for KVSH Racing in a Chevrolet.
Bourdais believes Long Beach belongs in the elite category of races and that is why it draws an estimated 200,000 fans over the three-days of track activity.
“The only race bigger is the Indianapolis 500,” Bourdais said. “It’s one of the big ones of the season. It’s this one, the Indianapolis 500 and Toronto and St. Petersburg is getting bigger and bigger. Those are races that mean more than the others and it is getting stronger and stronger. There is massive support from the community and they know racing. It has the recipe to be a successful event and it is for very good reasons.
“On top of that the racing is always good; the track is always fun. It’s racy with passing – it has it all.”
Stefano Coletti is a newcomer to IndyCar racing and the driver for KVSH Racing looks forward to his first Long Beach Grand Prix.
“It’s my first time on this track and everything is very well organized and nice, great weather and it’s warm,” Coletti said. “I think it’s important because street circuits are fun. I like a lot of street circuits and I love the race in Monaco and I love the race in the streets.”
James Hinchcliffe is coming off a high as the most recent winner in the Verizon IndyCar Series in last Sunday’s Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana at NOLA Motorsports Park. A lot of big things have happened to Hinchcliffe in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach most importantly, it’s where he met his girlfriend, Kirsten Dee of Australia.
“This is one of my favorite events and favorite tracks,” Hinchcliffe said. “I’ve run well here in all the categories – Atlantics, Lights and IndyCar. I got my first podium here. It’s a track that has treated me well and I’m trying to ride the momentum from last weekend and run up front.
“For sure, this the biggest race other than the Indy 500. The next oldest race is this one. Toronto is coming up on 30 years and St. Pete is getting there as one of the greatest races.”
Graham Rahal believes it’s not even a debate – the only race bigger than the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is the Indianapolis 500.
“Without a doubt – the only other street course that competes with this is Monaco that has the history and heritage of Long Beach,” Rahal said. “The atmosphere, the fans, the way they turn out this is the second biggest race of the year behind the Indy 500.”