{"id":273473,"date":"2026-04-18T01:05:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T01:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/273473\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T01:05:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T01:05:08","slug":"long-beach-grand-prix-hits-full-throttle-this-weekend-with-high-stakes-racing-and-rock-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/273473\/","title":{"rendered":"Long Beach Grand Prix hits full throttle this weekend with high-stakes racing and rock show"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 51st Long Beach Grand Prix shifts into high gear this weekend<\/a>, packing Saturday and Sunday with wall-to-wall racing, roaring engines and a high-energy concert<\/a> lineup.<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s action begins early, with gates opening at 7:30 a.m. before a full slate of races and events takes over the 1.97-mile, 11-turn street circuit surrounding the Long Beach Convention Center.<\/p>\n

Fans will see the Historic Sports Car Challenge, Porsche Carrera Cup race and a crucial second IndyCar practice session leading into the afternoon\u2019s high-stakes IndyCar qualifying.<\/p>\n

The 51st Long Beach Grand Prix shifts into high gear this weekend. Phillip Abbott\/LAT for Chevy Racing<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s action begins early, with gates opening at 7:30 a.m. before a full slate of races and events. Phillip Abbott\/LAT for Chevy Racing<\/p>\n

IMSA sports cars headline midday with their 100-minute Grand Prix, while autograph sessions give fans a chance to meet drivers up close.<\/p>\n

The Stadium Super Trucks, 600-horsepower V-8 machines known for their jumps and aggressive racing, will run their first race of the weekend in the evening.<\/p>\n

The night closes with the final round of the drifting competition, where drivers battle for style and precision in controlled high-speed slides, followed by a concert from Kings of Chaos featuring Aloe Blacc at the Terrace Theater plaza.<\/p>\n

The races take place on the1.97-mile, 11-turn street circuit surrounding the Long Beach Convention Center. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Sunday brings the main event, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, capping the three-day spectacle. Getty Images<\/p>\n

Sunday brings the main event, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, capping the three-day spectacle<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After a morning warmup and support races from the Historic Sports Car Challenge, Porsche Carrera Cup and Stadium Super Trucks, the focus turns to IndyCar.<\/p>\n

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Pre-race festivities begin at 1:30 p.m., with the 90-lap, 177-mile race set to start at 2:45 p.m.<\/p>\n

Each IndyCar will burn roughly two gallons of fuel per lap, meaning a full field of 27 cars could use about 4,860 gallons over the race distance.<\/p>\n

After a morning warmup and support races from the Historic Sports Car Challenge, Porsche Carrera Cup and Stadium Super Trucks, the focus turns to IndyCar. \u00a9 Steven Georges\/Press-Telegram\/<\/p>\n

After a morning warmup and support races from the Historic Sports Car Challenge, Porsche Carrera Cup and Stadium Super Trucks, the focus turns to IndyCar. Richard Prince for Cadillac Racing<\/p>\n

That figure doesn\u2019t include fuel consumed during qualifying or other races across the weekend.<\/p>\n

Despite the eye-popping numbers, IndyCar officials stress the series\u2019 environmental push. \u201cThis year marks the fourth season that IndyCar has used 100% renewable race fuel for the NTT IndyCar Series, the first motorsport series in North America to utilize this type of fuel,\u201d an IndyCar spokesperson wrote in a statement to the Los Angeles Times.<\/p>\n

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While fuel use on track is significant, the larger impact may come from the more than 200,000 fans expected to drive into Long Beach over the weekend.<\/p>\n

On race day, starting position hasn\u2019t always guaranteed victory on the tight street circuit.<\/p>\n

On race day, starting position hasn\u2019t always guaranteed victory on the tight street circuit. Richard Prince for Cadillac Racing<\/p>\n

Only six drivers, Kyle Kirkwood, Alexander Rossi, Mario Andretti, Al Unser Jr., Helio Castroneves and Sebastien Bourdais, have converted pole position into wins here, combining for 12 such victories.<\/p>\n

Kirkwood enters Sunday with a slim two-point lead over defending champion Alex Palou in the season standings and is the only driver to finish in the top five in all four races this year.<\/p>\n

Along with Rossi, he stands as the most successful active driver at Long Beach, including a win in 2023.<\/p>\n

With packed grandstands, high-speed drama and a championship battle heating up, Long Beach is set for a blockbuster weekend on the streets.<\/p>\n

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