Roll-Out Of The Historic Formula Exhibition Practice One At The 50th ACURA Grand Prix Of Long Beach

Formula One Historic No. 14 1979 Tyrrell 009 driven by Cal Meeker of Oceanside, California rounding Turn 11 hairpin on the famed 50th ACURA Grand Prix Of Long Beach temporary street circuit. Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien - Motorsports Journal (2052)

Roll-Out Of The Historic Formula Exhibition Practice One At The 50th ACURA Grand Prix Of Long Beach

An exclusive display captivates attendees at the 50th ACURA Grand Prix of Long Beach, showcasing historic race cars from three iconic racing eras - Formula 5000, Formula 1, and IndyCar. These machines represent the evolution of open-wheel racing at North America’s premier street race. Later, during the Historic Formula Exhibition on race weekend, the cars hit the track, offering fans a thrilling glimpse into motorsports history. For the first time, all three types race together, driven with intensity and a touch of grit.

VIDEO - Pump Up The Volume!!! >>> Formula One Historic No. 8 1980 McLaren M30 driven by Sean Allen of Manhattan Beach, California rounding Turn 11 hairpin on the famed 50th ACURA Grand Prix Of Long Beach temporary street circuit. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal

Adding to the historic weekend, the video highlights the Roll-Out of the Historic Formula Exhibition Practice One, a standout moment of the 50th Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach. Attendees were enthralled by a remarkable display of vintage race cars from three iconic open-wheel eras - Formula 5000, Formula 1, and IndyCar - representing the evolution of the sport at North America’s premier street race. Open-wheel racing, born in the early 1900s with milestones like the 1911 Indianapolis 500, progressed through innovations such as the 1960s rear-engine designs and navigated organizational shifts like the CART-IRL divide, leading to IndyCar’s modern era.

Formula 5000 Historic No. 48 1975 Eagle 755 driven by EthanShippert of Corona, California rounding Turn 11 hairpin on the famed 50th ACURA Grand Prix Of Long Beach temporary street circuit. This Tom Malloy owned F5000 has the distinction of being the first ever racecar to enter the track od the first Long Beach Grand Prix - pretty special. Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien - Motorsports Journal (2025)

During the practice session, these legendary machines roared to life, their exposed wheels and open cockpits evoking motorsport’s storied past.

CART IndyCar Historic No. 48T 1969 Eagle (with knock-offs) driven by Butch Leitzinger of Poughkeepsie, New York rounding Turn 11 hairpin on the famed 50th ACURA Grand Prix Of Long Beach temporary street circuit. Image Credit: Brandon O'Brien - Motorsports Journal (2025)

The true spectacle unfolded in the Historic Formula Exhibition, where, for the first time, Formula 5000’s raw, thunderous power, Formula 1’s sleek, precision-engineered elegance, and IndyCar’s bold, American-bred grit raced side-by-side on the Long Beach circuit. Driven with unrelenting intensity, the cars wove through the streets, offering fans a breathtaking tribute to open-wheel racing’s diverse and dynamic legacy.

... notes from The EDJE







TAGS: HMSA, Formula One, F5000, IndyCar, ChampCar, CART, The EDJE