Bob Foster, the former mayor of Long Beach who died late last year, will be posthumously inducted into the Motorsports Walk of Fame just before this year’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Foster served as the 27th mayor of Long Beach from 2006 to 2014, and was regarded for championing fiscal responsibility during the Great Recession, public safety and environmental stewardship.
His work directly led to the creation of the new Long Beach Civic Center and the Billie Jean King Main Library in downtown. Foster’s commitment to public service continued long after his time in office, with he and his family supporting countless nonprofits and charities across Long Beach, including mental health programs, initiatives for students and libraries, and Cal State Long Beach.
From left to right, Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President & CEO Jim Michaelian, Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, Formula DRIFT President & Co-Founder Jim Liaw and Stephen Papadakis, owner of Papadakis Racing. (Photo by Stephen Carr, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Mayor Bob Foster, right, and Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President & CEO Jim Michaelian share a laugh as they kick off the first full day of LBGP track construction in Long Beach, CA on Tuesday, February 11, 2014.
(Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze)
Mayor Bob Foster waves the starting flag for bikers who were given the chance to ride the Grand Prix course Tuesday.
Long Beach, Calif., — 02-19-13- From left to right, Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President & CEO Jim Michaelian, Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, Formula DRIFT President & Co-Founder Jim Liaw and Stephen Papadakis, owner of Papadakis Racing. (Stephen Carr/ Los Angeles Newspaper Group)
Show Caption
1 of 4
From left to right, Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President & CEO Jim Michaelian, Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, Formula DRIFT President & Co-Founder Jim Liaw and Stephen Papadakis, owner of Papadakis Racing. (Photo by Stephen Carr, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
He was also an unwavering supporter of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, according to a Wednesday, March 4, city announcement.
After Foster’s death on Nov. 30, leaders from across Long Beach paid their respects to the former mayor and the work he did for the city. Those honors will continue on Thursday, April 16, when Foster is posthumously inducted into the Motorsports Walk of Fame on its 20th anniversary.
Foster’s wife, Nancy Foster, will accept the award on behalf of her late husband, the city said.
Alexander Rossi, an NTT IndyCar Series driver with two Grand Prix of Long Beach wins, will also be inducted into the 2026 Motorsports Walk of Fame. Besides his two wins in Long Beach, the Nevada City native is recognized as one of the most successful American drivers, the city said.
Rossi began racing go-karts at age 10, and claimed multiple national and international karting championships early on in his career, according to the city. Rossi made history in 2016 when he became the first rookie to win the Indianapolis 500 since 2001 (and the first American rookie to claim the title since 1928).
Alexander Rossi gets a champagne bath after winning the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach for the second consecutive year in April 2019. He has a chance for a three-peat this Sunday. (File photo by Chuck Bennett, contributing photographer)
IndyCar driver Alexander Rossi, shown here at the 2023 Grand Prix of Long Beach, won the race in 2018 and 2019. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Alexander Rossi in the Arrow McLaren (7) NTT IndyCar during a practice session on day two of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Saturday, April 15, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Alexander Rossi, shown here ahead of practice for the IndyCar race in Thermal in March, won the Grand Prix of Long Beach in 2018 and 2019. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Alexander Rossi leads the field down Shoreline Drive to start the 45th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach Sunday, April 14, 2019. Pole sitter Alexander Rossi defended his 2018 Long Beach win with a flag-to-flag victory with Josef Newgarden finishing second and Scott Dixon coming in third. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Colton Herta, left, and Alexander Rossi are ready to meet fans on Friday, Apr. 8, 2022, during an Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach autograph session. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Show Caption
1 of 6
Alexander Rossi gets a champagne bath after winning the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach for the second consecutive year in April 2019. He has a chance for a three-peat this Sunday. (File photo by Chuck Bennett, contributing photographer)
Rossi has also claimed victories in Formula 2, the World Series by Renault and the 24 Hours of Daytona, the city said. He’s also had several starts in Formula 1, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Baja 1000 and Bathurst 1000.
“Alex has delivered two unforgettable wins on our streets, always competing at the highest level and earning the respect of our fans for his talent and determination,” said Grand Prix of Long Beach Association President and CEO Jim Michaelian, who himself was inducted into the Walk of Fame last year. “And Mayor Foster’s leadership and longtime support helped strengthen Long Beach’s identity as a world-class special event destination. Their inductions celebrate two very different — but equally important — contributions to the legacy of the Grand Prix in Long Beach.”
The Motorsports Walk of Fame is a joint project between the city and the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach (which organizes the event), created 20 years ago. The inaugural inductees included Dan Gurney and Phil Hill, who played crucial roles in the early success of the Grand Prix.
Since then, 40 other people have been inducted into the Motorsports Walk of Fame, including Al Unser Jr., Mario and Michael Andretti, Robby Gordon, Roger Penske, Katherine Legge, Scott Dixon and former Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill.
“As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our Long Beach Motorsports Hall of Fame, it is our privilege to honor two legends who have been instrumental in shaping the history of the Grand Prix of Long Beach and the racing world,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “This year, we are celebrating the accomplishments of the two-time Long Beach winning driver Alexander Rossi and paying a meaningful tribute to the life and legacy of our beloved Mayor Bob Foster, whose dedication and leadership guided our city through some of its most challenging times.”
The Motorsports Walk of Fame induction ceremony, which is free and open to the public, will take place at 11 a.m. April 16 in front of the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center on South Pine Avenue.
Rossi will be available for autographs after the ceremony, the city said.
Construction for this year’s Grand Prix of Long Beach, which will run from April 17 to April 19, is already underway. Tickets are on sale at gplb.com.