IndyCar - Long Beach

The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach brings the NTT IndyCar Series to the Streets of Long Beach in California. This event stands as North America's longest-running major street circuit race and the second-oldest continuously running competition in American open-wheel racing, behind only the Indianapolis 500. The 2026 edition features 90 laps of intense competition on a challenging temporary street circuit that winds through the city's downtown area.

About the Race

The Streets of Long Beach host a 90-lap IndyCar race that covers a total distance of 177.12 miles. This event attracts approximately 190,000 fans over the three-day weekend. The race weekend includes the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and other support series competitions. IndyCar has updated its practice procedures for the 2026 season, with both practice sessions following a group format that includes an initial 40-minute segment followed by two 12-minute group segments. Warmup sessions have been extended to 30 minutes for all events.

The Circuit

The Streets of Long Beach circuit measures 1.968 miles (3.167 km) and features 11 turns. This temporary street course runs clockwise through city streets surrounding the Long Beach Convention Center, which serves as the pit paddock during race weekends. The circuit offers multiple overtaking opportunities, particularly into Turn 1. A sharp hairpin at Turn 11 leads onto a long, slightly curved front straightaway along Shoreline Drive. The track layout runs primarily over the former location of The Pike, a historic amusement zone.

Competition and Participants

The 2026 NTT IndyCar Series field includes several notable driver changes. Will Power has joined Andretti Global, while David Malukas moves to Team Penske. Mick Schumacher begins his rookie IndyCar season with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Álex Palou enters the season as the defending Indianapolis 500 winner and a four-time series champion. Teams compete with cars powered by either Chevrolet or Honda engines.

Technical Regulations

IndyCar teams use the Dallara IR18 chassis powered by twin-turbocharged V6 engines from Chevrolet and Honda. Firestone supplies all tires, providing both primary (hard) and alternate (soft) compounds. The 2026 season introduces significant tire usage changes for street circuits like Long Beach. Teams must use one set of primary tires and two sets of alternate tires during the race. Drivers must complete at least two green-flag laps on each of these three tire sets. This rule adds strategic depth and creates opportunities for varied pit-road strategies.

Hybrid energy deployment allows unlimited activation during races, with a maximum deployment of 415 kilojoules per lap. IndyCar has also implemented safety updates for the 2026 season, including mandatory superspeedway tire ramp flaps for the Indianapolis 500 to reduce the likelihood of cars lifting during spins.

Event History

Chris Pook founded the Long Beach Grand Prix in 1975 as a Formula 5000 race. The event quickly became a Formula One competition from 1976 to 1983, known as the United States Grand Prix West. In 1977, Mario Andretti became the first American to win a Formula One race on home soil at Long Beach. John Watson achieved a remarkable victory from 22nd on the grid in 1983, setting a Formula One record.

The event transitioned to the CART IndyCar Series in 1984 and has been a cornerstone of the unified NTT IndyCar Series calendar since 2009. Al Unser Jr. holds the record with six victories, including four consecutive wins from 1988-1991. Mario Andretti and Paul Tracy each earned four victories at Long Beach. Michael Andretti secured both his first (1986) and final (2002) IndyCar victories at this venue. Acura assumed naming rights from Toyota in 2019.

Notable Aspects

The Grand Prix of Long Beach ranks among the most prestigious events on the IndyCar Series calendar. The race has been called the "Monaco of the West" due to its scenic waterfront setting and challenging street circuit layout. Several drivers have achieved their first career IndyCar victories at Long Beach, including Michael Andretti, Juan Pablo Montoya, Takuma Sato, and Kyle Kirkwood.

The event has served as an economic driver for Long Beach, transforming the city into an international destination. The Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame, established in 2006, honors contributors to auto racing. The combination of challenging circuit characteristics, competitive fields, and the event's rich history makes the Long Beach IndyCar race a significant test for drivers and teams.