Grand Prix of Long Beach kicks off Day 2 festivities
Grand Prix of Long Beach kicks off Day 2 festivities
After a fun-filled kick-off on Friday, the second day of the 50th annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is officially underway.
While crowds are typically smaller on the first day of the Grand Prix, with its light schedule and folks still tied up in work and school — Saturday and Sunday tend to draw massive crowds.
The Grand Prix, in fact, is among the region’s biggest events, drawing around 200,000 people each year and generating millions for the regional economy.
Gates for Day 2 opened at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, welcoming in fans excited for the real action to kick off after a day of practice sessions for the NTT IndyCar Series, IMSA, GT America, and more on Friday.
Though practice runs will continue on Saturday morning, the Grand Prix’s first races — including the first of two Historic Formula Exhibitions, the Super Drift Challenge, and GT America’s first race — will begin in the afternoon.
The first Historic Formula exhibition of the weekend — a tribute to Long Beach’s open-wheel racing heritage — will start at 10:45 a.m.
The exhibition will feature historic cars from Formula 5000, Formula 1 and IndyCar. The lineup includes John Cannon’s 1973 March 73A from Formula 5000, Keke Rosberg’s 1983 Williams FW 008C from Formula 1, and Bryan Herta’s 1999 Reynard from IndyCar.
Speaking of Long Beach legends, Saturday’s schedule will also feature a chance for racing superfans to meet — and get autographs from — a few racing icons, including the Grand Prix’s 2025 co-grand marshals, Mario Andretti and Al Unser Jr.
That autograph session, near the Historic Formula Paddock, will start at 1 p.m. Brian Redman and Pauly Tracy will also be there for the meet-and-greet.
The fun on Saturday will continue with the first Stadium Super Trucks race at 4:30 p.m., followed by GT America’s first race at 5:20 p.m. and second Super Drift Challenge at 6:30 p.m.
Off the track, the second day of the Grand Prix will finish with a bang — that is, with a performance from legendary rock band Foreigner, at the Terrace Theater Plaza, at 6:30 p.m.
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