Long Beach Grand Prix Preview

When you get of the freeway and head into the bustling, crowded city center, you’re greeted with a wail. It’s like Long Beach skyline is inhabited by banshees with no fear of people or daylight. As you get closer to the track, that eerie noise turns into a roar. That howling noise? That was the sound V8 Indycars tearing down shoreline drive. They pop and crackle coming into turn 6 before tearing up Pine Avenue. A street that on any other day would be serving much less exciting traffic.

I think it’s that extremeness laid on-top of the everyday that makes street races fun. That, and the fact that they’re tight, narrow, extremely technical, and always action packed. There’s a lot going this weekend. The American LeMans series, the Indy Car Series, the Indy Lights Series, and even Toyota Pro Celebrity race are happening this weekend, all on Sunday.

Personally though? I’m excited for the Pirelli World Challenge race series. The cars there are the closest you’re going to get to stockroom models out of any series out there, and the racing is really exciting. Check out the highlights from last year below along with our photos from the paddocks. We’ll have a live stream of the racing up on the weekend too, so keep an eye out!