Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame Honors Paul Tracy And Adrian Fernandez With Medallions

Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame's temporary wall of fame display. All honorees starting with the first year to present - 2006-2012 are on display. This event acts as the first official event of the Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach extended event weekend (slideshow). Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012) 

Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame Honors Paul Tracy And Adrian Fernandez With Medallions

Two of the most popular drivers to ever turn a wheel at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach – Paul Tracy and Adrian Fernandez – will be inducted into the Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame on Thursday, April 18.

The public is invited to the free, 8th annual, induction ceremony which will be held at 11 a.m. on South Pine Avenue in front of the Convention Center, along the route of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

View slideshow: Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame honors Paul Tracy and Adrian Fernandez with medallions

“Paul Tracy and Adrian Fernandez have made legendary contributions to the field of motorsports, and they have truly earned their place on the Motorsports Walk of Fame” said Mayor Bob Foster, who will be presenting medallions to the honorees. “Paul Tracy has four wins here at Long Beach, and Adrian Fernandez is one of the sport’s greatest international ambassadors.”

Tracy notched his first open-wheel race victory here at Long Beach in 1990 when he won the Firestone Indy Lights support race. Three years later, he won the 1993 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, then went on to take the checkered flag three more times, in 2000, 2003 and 2004, tying him with Mario Andretti for second in all-time Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach wins behind Al Unser Jr.’s six.

During his illustrious career, the talented Canadian scored 31 race victories and 25 pole positions in the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) Champ Car series and, in 1993, won seven races en route to the Champ Car series championship.

Fernandez, one of the most popular athletes ever to hail from Mexico, made his open-wheel debut here in 1993 and, in 11 appearances, had a career best-finish second place (2003) at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Fernandez’ career resume includes 11 open-wheel race victories in both the Champ Car and IZOD IndyCar ranks, including three victories in 2004.

He has continued that open-wheel racing success into the sports car racing ranks. In 2009, Fernandez teamed with Luis Diaz to win the LMP2 Class in the Tequila Patron American Le Mans Series race at Long Beach, the duo going on to win seven more races and the ALMS LMP2-class championship.

“There couldn’t be two more deserving individuals to be inducted into the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame,” said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. “Paul has to rank as one of the true masters of the Long Beach circuit and Adrian was not only successful on the track but also was highly responsible for the significant increase in the number of Hispanic fans who now attend our event.”

The Walk of Fame medallions include renditions of the racers' cars and their major achievements in motorsports.

For more information, visit www.lbmotorsportswof.com.

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Seven Questions With IZOD IndyCar Series' Graham Rahal

TwitPic uploaded by Graham Rahal after he saw the RLLR 2013 DW12 in its Midas livery for the first time. Image Credit: Graham Rahal (2013)

Seven Questions With IZOD IndyCar Series' Graham Rahal

Graham Rahal is entering his sixth year competing in the IZOD IndyCar Series (IICS) after beginning his top-level open wheel driving career in the ChampCar World Series in 2007 where he finished 5th in the points, his best top level end-of-year position, driving for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing.

This year will mark the first time Graham will be racing for a team owned by his father, open wheel racing champion and sports car championship winning team owenr Bobby Rahal, in an open wheel racing series since the Star Mazda Series (now rebadged as the Pro Mazda Series in the Mazda Road To INDY ladder series) in 2005. The Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLLR) team effort will have Brit, James Jakes, join Graham and form a two car effort for 2013, and this will mark the first time RLLR has fielded a multi-car full season team in the IICS since 2007.

Graham Rahal sat down to give a preseason interview with IndyCar Advocate in advance of a Graham Rahal Foundation charity event scheduled to be held March 9th at the Dallara Indycar Factory in Indianapolis, Indiana.

VIDEO of our out lap at Sebring to kick-off 2013 IndyCar testing. Check out the GoPro camera on G's helmet (Ctrl-click image to launch video). Image and Video Credit: RLLR

This excerpted and edited from the IndyCar Advocate -

This isn't your first time racing with your dad, but a lot of fans are definitely looking forward to seeing how your father-son duo does over the rigors of the season. In your opinion, what are the biggest benefits to being a part of his team?

GR: The biggest benefit is the commitment and the at ease feeling that I have from within right now. This group is top notch, they want to win, the commitment is superb, and I think we are going to have a great few years together.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing was extremely fast last season, grabbing a couple of podiums and narrowly missing out on winning the Indy 500. With bringing veteran engineer Eddie Jones on the offseason, what are the main goals to improve upon last year?

GR: Eddie is certainly a great addition to our team. I love Eddie's mentality and his work ethic. His approach to our team and the sport is exactly what you like to see with an engineer, cool calm and collected while always searching for every advantage possible. Eddie mixed with my engineer Gerry [Hughes] will be a great combination. Certainly excited to have him with James.

You've got a new teammate this year in James Jakes. How much have you hung out with him before this season, and what do you look for in a teammate?

GR: James is a great guy. He and I have really clicked, something I can't say I've had much in the past. It's nice we share a lot of the same interests, and I think that will help us both on and off the track. I am excited to have him with us, and I think people will see a whole different James with this team than what they have before!

This is your 6th year in IndyCar since the merger. Mentally, how is your preparation and attitude going into the season compared to previous years?

GR: I think I am much more at ease this year. I feel quietly confident that this team can surprise some people. I have always been someone that was concerned with what was going on when I wasn't watching, but here I know everything that is happening is happening so we can win. There are zero doubts in my mind we have put together a great group of people here at RLLR.

Aside from the obvious answer of Indianapolis, is there another race on this year's schedule you have circled in red you're really looking forward to this year?

GR: I am looking forward to Houston, St. Pete of course, Mid Ohio and really everywhere we go. Every track presents a different challenge and that's what I love about indycar racing! 

 

If you're anywhere around Indianapolis, you'll want to be at the Dallara Facility in Speedway on Saturday, March 9. That's the day the Graham Rahal Foundation will be hosting a big charity event at the facility, along with Indy Cars and Coffee. Graham himself took the time to answer a few questions about the event and his charity.

Tell us about the big charity event at Dallara coming up on March 9?

GR: Our event on March 9th is going to be great. I attend a local group called Cars and Coffee in Indianapolis on Saturdays. They’re a large group of car and racing fans with big hearts. They were invited to tour the Dallara Indycar Factory and decided to turn the tour into an event to benefit my foundation, The Graham Rahal Foundation. The event will be from 11-5 on March 9th with tours of the Dallara facility, two seater rides, iRacing simulators, an autograph session and more.

With the Graham Rahal Foundation involved, this might be a good time to tell fans a bit more about just what it does. Who does your foundation seek to help, and was there a reason your specially chose those causes?

GR: The Graham Rahal Foundation was started in 2009 after my boss, Paul Newman, passed away. Paul was such a huge advocate for giving back to others and I wanted to continue that even after his passing. He inspired me to be a better person and to never take life for granted. GRF raises money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand and Paul’s foundation, SeriousFun Networks. Donations at the event will be taken to help us raise money for GRF, which will allow us to give back to these two amazing groups. Through various events, we have raised over $200,000 and helped many children in need. It’s a great thing to be part of.

For more information, follow the Graham Rahal Foundation on Twitter, and also remember to follow Indy Cars and Coffee.  Thanks to Graham for his time, and see you for a great cause on March 9!
[Reference Here]

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March Madness Begins For Mazda Motorsports

Circuit of the Americas features a 251 feet (77 m) observation tower designed by Miró Rivera Architects and built by Patriot Erectors as a landmark for the venue. All racers have come away impressed, after their first laps, with the Circuit of The Americas, a 3.4-mile facility built to host Formula One and other major events. Image Credit: Grand Am

Circuit of the Americas features a 251 feet (77 m) observation tower designed by Miró Rivera Architects and built by Patriot Erectors as a landmark for the venue. All racers have come away impressed, after their first laps, with the Circuit of The Americas, a 3.4-mile facility built to host Formula One and other major events. Image Credit: Grand Am

GRAND-AM Road Racing teams got their first look at America’s newest motorsports venue on Thursday with unofficial testing for Saturday’s GRAND-AM of The Americas presented by GAINSCO and TOTAL.

They came away impressed with the Circuit of The Americas, a 3.4-mile facility built to host Formula One and other major events.

- See more at: http://www.grand-am.com/News/GA_News/tabid/141/Article/53285/starworks-fords-fastest-at-circuit-of-the-americas-test-day.aspx?cid=6383&sid=1#sthash.J52i92ur.dpuf

March Madness Begins For Mazda Motorsports

With 15 races run in seven supported series taking place at three different race tracks located in two different states in only one month, Mazda is ramping up the 2013 professional racing season with their usual hectic month of March.

Starting with races on March 1st in Austin, Texas, before going on to overseeing two busy weekends in Florida, at Mazda Motorsports racing is not just a single series, but the majority of all sports car and open wheel road-racing classes in North America.  2013 highlights on the professional level will include:

There has never been a four-door diesel sedan in the Grand-Am series, until now: The blunt, bewinged grille of the Mazda6GX has blown right through that wall. It's said that racing improves the breed, but usually the breed has gone on sale when the racing begins. One of the unusual aspects of the Mazda6 GX, on the other hand, is that while the diesel won't go on sale to the public until later this year, it will already have tasted racing blood by the end of the day. Caption & Image Credit: Jonathon Ramsey/autoblog (2013)

GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series (GRAND-AM)

The GRAND-AM Championship will be the first professional series other than Formula 1 to headline at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The SpeedSource Engineering team will have a pair of totally new technology SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel powered Mazda6s competing in the new for 2013 GX class on Saturday, March 2nd. Twitter Hashtag - #COTAGA

The MAZDASPEED3 and MX-5s compete in the ST class of the Grand Am Continental Tire Challenge. Image Credit: MAZDASPEED

GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (CTSCC)

Supporting GRAND-AM in Austin will be the fiercely competitive ‘Conti’ (for Continental Tires) series. At least a half dozen Mazdas from Freedom Autosport, i-Moto Racing, and CJ Wilson Racing will be challenging for the ST Class win in Austin. Twitter Hashtag - #COTAGA

Dyson Racing is celebrating its thirtieth year in professional sports car racing this year. It is fitting that long-time Dyson Racing driver, Butch Leitzinger, will be joining Chris Dyson and Guy Smith in the #16 Thetford/Norcold entry for the sixty-first annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring on March 16th. Caption & Image Credit: Dyson Racing

American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón (ALMS)

With its race starting in Florida, the final American Le Mans Series (as ALMS becomes merged with Grand Am Series) season will kick-off with the 61st Mobil-1 12 Hours of Sebring on Saturday, March 16th. Dyson Racing will be returning to the series with their Mazda MZR-R-powered Lola. This is the same car that scored the ALMS LMP1 class win at the 2012 Sebring race.

The SCCA Pro Racing Mazda MX-5 Cup season got it’s unofficial start Feb.11, 2013 at Sebring International Raceway, with a number of teams and drivers gathered at the series’ official test session for two days on Monday and Tuesday. Caption & Image Credit Weber Photo via MX-5 Cup

SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup (MX-5 Cup)

The seventh season of MX-5 Cup competition will begin at Sebring. Joining the MX-5 Cup Championship for the second year will be a MAZDASPEED Challenge class for racers from the Skip Barber Racing School.

The Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires will debut in 2013 as a new series, replacing the Star Mazda Championship which ceased operation in 2012 after 22 years. The series is sanctioned by INDYCAR and owned and operated by Andersen Promotions. It is the second official step on the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system with the series' champion awarded a scholarship package from Mazda to advance to Firestone Indy Lights competition the following year. Caption & Image Credit: Pro Mazda

Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires (Pro Mazda)

The Cooper Tires Pro Mazda Championship takes off where the Star Mazda Championship ended in 2012, as the linchpin in the Mazda Road to Indy (MRTI). The rotary-powered Pro Mazda racers will complete a double-header at the new Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on March 1st/2nd before heading to the streets of St. Petersburg on March 23rd/24th. Twitter Hashtag - #COTAGA

Drivers today have a clearly defined ladder system as they aspire to reach the top echelons of the sport and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda represents the first official step on the Mazda Road to Indy. Caption & Image Credit: USF2000

Cooper Tires USF2000 National Championship Powered By Mazda (USF2000)

The USF2000 Championship kicks off their season at Sebring on March 14th/15th, before joining up with the other MRTI series in St. Petersburg.  

The Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Championship Powered by Mazda was developed to support the American Le Mans series, one of the premier prototype and GT endurance racing series in the world. The series features global race car constructors Élan Motorsport Technologies and West Race Cars and offers racers from around the world the opportunity to compete at historic venues like Sebring International Raceway, Road Atlanta and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Caption & Image Credit: Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Championship Powered by Mazda

Cooper Tires IMSA Prototype Lites Powered By Mazda (IMSA Lites)

The IMSA Lites Championship kicks off their season at Sebring on March 14th/15th with a double-header.
(ht: MAZDA Motorsports)

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Lotus Honored At 4th Motor Sport Magazine Hall of Fame Event

Sir Jackie Stewart, Clive Chapman and Jackie Oliver at the Motor Sport Magazine event. Image Credit: lotuscars.com

Lotus Honored At 4th Motor Sport Magazine Hall of Fame Event

Colin Chapman CBE, the Lotus founder and engineer was recognized for his contribution to the automotive and motorsport industry at the 2013 Motor Sport Magazine Hall of Fame annual inauguration event, attended by Colin’s son and Classic Team Lotus founder, Clive Chapman.

The inaugural Motor Sport Hall of Fame evening took place in February 2010. Damien Smith, Motor Sports magazine’s editor, first came up with the idea, and it celebrated its fourth year at Covent Garden’s historic Royal Opera House – a suitably grand venue to honor some of racing’s greatest names.

The motorsport glitterati attended the star-studded evening honoring Mr. Chapman and Lotus where this outstanding engineer and visionary, who became known for his technical innovations and Formula 1 ‘firsts’, was celebrated.

Driven initially by his desire for motor racing, Colin Chapman built his first racing car in 1948 in a garage belonging to his girlfriend’s father. Now, over 60 years later Lotus has become both a class-leading manufacturer of desired sports cars and a globally respected automotive engineering consultancy. Team Lotus, the racing team Chapman formed went onto win seven Formula One Constructor’s Championships and six Drivers’ Championship titles. Today, the Lotus name in F1® has competed in over 500 Grand Prix races and had 80 Grand Prix wins. The 80th win was scooped last season when Lotus F1® driver Kimi Räikkönen stormed to victory during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Chapman’s genius saw him exploit engineering principles, applying them in new and innovative ways that would give his team the competitive edge on the circuit. Whilst a few of the innovations were banned, others went onto revolutionize the sport and still underpin F1® today.

The first Formula 1 race car to introduce managed airflow under the car and ground effects – Lotus Type 78 in 1977 driven by Mario Andretti. Image Credit: neilgrocock.deviantart.com

Lotus List of Firsts..

• First to use a sequential transmission in F1, Lotus Type 12 in 1957
• First to use reclining driving position – Lotus Type 21 in 1961
• First to put the spring damper units inboard for improved aerodynamics on the Lotus Type 21 1961
• First to use a fully stressed monocoque chassis – Lotus Type 25 in 1962
• First to introduce aircraft style bag tanks for fuel (big safety improvement) Lotus Type 25 1962
• First to “mould” the car precisely to the driver size and shape – Lotus Type 25 in 1962
• First to successfully use the engine as a structural member – Lotus Type 43 in 1966
• First in F1® to use full sponsors colour schemes – Lotus Type 49 in 1968
• First in F1® to use a wedge shape front – Lotus Type 63 in 1969
• First in F1® to use side mounted radiators – Lotus Type 72 in 1970
• First to use a multi-element rear wing – Lotus Type 72 in 1970
• First to introduce left foot braking and automatic clutch operation to F1 with the "four • pedal" Type 76 in 1974
• First to manage airflow under the car including ground effects – Lotus Type 78 in 1977
• First to introduced the concept of a rear diffuser on the Lotus Type 80 in 1979.
• First to design a carbon fibre monocoque – Lotus Type 88 in 1981
• First to use twin chassis – Lotus Type 88 in 1981
• First to use active suspension – Lotus Type 92 in 1983
• First to use aerodynamic bargeboards – Lotus Type 97T in 1985

This great accolade sees Colin Chapman alongside other 2013 hall of fame inductees Niki Lauda, Damon Hill OBE, Graham Hill OBE, and Tom Kristensen join other similarly revered motorsport greats.

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** Article first published as Lotus Honored At 4th Motor Sport Magazine Hall of Fame Event on Technorati **

Seven Questions With ALMS Extreme Speed Motorsports P2's Guy Cosmo

Scott Sharp is moving his Extreme Speed Motorsports Tequila Patron team up to P2 Honda Performance Development from GT Class with Ferrari F458 Italia for 2013 with co-drivers Guy Cosmo, Johannes van overbeek and Ed Brown. Image Credit: ESM

Seven Questions With ALMS Extreme Speed Motorsports P2's Guy Cosmo

Guy Cosmo, co-driver of the Tequila Patrón-sponsored Extreme Speed Motorsports (ESM) P2 racing machine, took to the track for the first time during a private test at Sebring International Raceway last week.  Cosmo eagerly approaches the season already a P2 race winner with a 2005 victory in a Mazda-powered prototype.  Cosmo talks about the pre-season test session, the difference in racing P2 and his goals for the season.

In mid-February, ESM announced it would compete in American Le Mans Series (ALMS) presented by Tequila Patrón P2 class in 2013.  ESM will campaign two purpose-built Honda Performance Development ARX-03b prototypes beginning with the 61st Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida March 13-16, 2013.

Extreme Speed Motorsports HPD ARX-03b P2 prototype. Image Credit: ESM

LAST WEEK’S ESM P2 TEST SESSION AT SEBRING INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY WAS YOUR FIRST TIME ON TRACK THIS SEASON.  HOW DID IT GO?
“It went really well.  I was so happy to get back behind the wheel and do what I do best.  It’s been really strange to have not driven for a couple of months, so now I’m feeling back to normal.”

AS A DRIVER THAT HAS BEEN IN ALL TYPES OF RACE CARS, HOW EASY IS IT TO TRANSITION INTO THE P2 CAR?
“Hopping back into a P2 car is just great.  They are incredible machines.  The transition to the P2 from the ALMS GT car is actually quite a bit easier than expected, which I believe is a testament to just how extraordinary the ALMS-GT-spec cars are.  On the other hand, however, the P2 car definitely has a different set of capabilities and strengths, so adapting to them and learning how to capitalize on them is always a fun challenge.  I love it.”

AS THE FINAL ALMS SEASON BEFORE THE NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS CAR MERGER, WHAT GOALS/EXPECTATIONS HAVE YOU SET FOR YOURSELF AND FOR THE TEAM?
“My goals for this final season of the ALMS as we know it, is to put myself in the record books somehow.  Pole positions, class track records and fastest race laps - along with some race wins and possibly a championship.  You know, I’d like to just be in front of everyone all the time and win everything too!”

IS AN OVERALL WIN POSSIBLE FOR ESM NOW THAT THE TEAM IS IN THE P2 CLASS?
“It is a possibility.  But the P1 cars are definitely a good amount faster than the P2s still, unlike a few years ago.  It would likely take for the P1s to have some setbacks during the race for us to have a shot at it, but you keep pressing.  No matter what, we’ll do our best to put ESM near the top as we can.”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT DRIVING THE P2 CAR SO FAR?
“Being able to pass all my previous GT competitors real easily, which was formerly a very difficult task.”

MOVING FROM GT TO P2 IS A BIG JUMP IN CAR CLASSES AND PLACEMENT ON THE TRACK.  IS THERE AN ADJUSTMENT IN DRIVING STYLE?
“There will be an adjustment for sure. In GT, you’re really in the lower part of the performance chart. You’re faster than the GTCs, but have PC, P2 and P1 all faster than you and passing, while you’re racing your own fierce battle. In GT, you’re nearly looking in your mirrors more than you’re looking in front of you.  In P2, we’ll have the luxury of being one of the fastest cars on track, but working your way through all the slower traffic will be very tricky for sure.  You’ll have to be aggressive but very careful.”

IN ADDITION TO TESTING THE NEW P2 CAR LAST WEEK, ESM TESTED SOME OTHER RACE CARS INCLUDING THE GRAND-AM, FERRARI CHALLENGE CARS. HOW DID THAT GO?
“The testing went well for both teams.  ESM remains committed to running the GRAND-AM GT Ferrari and the Ferrari Challenge team in addition to the full-time ALMS P2 program, so the shop and crew stay extremely busy.  Improvements were definitely made in both cars and we're ready to race in all series!”

ENDS

The American Le Mans Series gets 2013 underway with the first race of the season starting in about 17 days with the 61st Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida.

For ESM, moving into the purpose-built Honda Performance Development ARX-03b prototypes, Extreme Speed Motorsports and Tequila Patrón will run for the P2 championship after posting a team best performance last year. Scott Sharp and Johannes van Overbeek in the No. 01 Ferrari F458 Italia finished second in the GT championship for 2012, which included victories at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Petit Le Mans.

The ESM driver lineup remains the same with Scott Sharp and Johannes van Overbeek co-driving the No. 01 Tequila Patrón racing machine, and Ed Brown and Guy Cosmo in the sister No. 02 Tequila Patrón prototype.

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K-Rail Blocks And The Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach Are A Match Made In Motor Culture Heaven

Green flags were set flying along Shoreline Drive signaling the start of construction for the 39th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, which will run April 19-21, 2013 (L to R - Jim Michaelian, Bob Foster, Jim Liaw, Stephan Papadakis). Image Credit: TGPLB

K-Rail Blocks And The Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach Are A Match Made In Motor Culture Heaven

Yesterday, February 19, 2013, the 39th Toyota Grand Prix got underway in earnest. The process is the same every year and it would never happen without K-Rails. The temporary track through the streets of Long Beach, California got started with a ceremony before noon near Turn 10. It's the time of year where the demand for 'K-Rails' begins to increase as the temporary street circuit for the first race of the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series season in St. Petersburg, Florida began just last week.

Sebastien Bourdais (third from left) has a tangible countdown to the IZOD IndyCar Series season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg every time he rides his bike on portions of the 1.8-mile, 14-turn circuit. Construction of the temporary street circuit for the ninth annual event March 22-24 began Feb. 15, 2013. Image Credit: IndyCar.com

The honorary construction foremen for the ceremony were Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, Papadakis Racing owner Stephan Papadakis, Formula DRIFT President & Co-Founder Jim Liaw and Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President & CEO Jim Michaelian. Also on-hand were the Papadakis Racing Scion tC, which will be driven in 2013 by top Drifting driver Frederic Aasbo, and, courtesy of Toyota Motorsports, an all-new, race-prepared Scion FR-S that will be driven in the 2013 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race.

“Our race circuit will feature something extra this year as we will be hosting the first-ever night racing in the Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge on Friday and Saturday,” said Michaelian. “Along with the six other racing events here in April, this should make for one of the most entertaining weekends in our history.”

The setting of the first of more than 14 million pounds of concrete K-Rail blocks that line the 1.97 mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit track marks the beginning of two months of work preparing for the 175,000 fans expected during race weekend. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

“It’s three days of great parties and great racing,” said Foster. “The Grand Prix brings a lot of people to Long Beach. Our hotels get filled up, our restaurants get filled up and people understand that Long Beach is a really a great city, a great place to have a good time.”

More than 30,000 working hours will be spent installing the  K-Rail blocks, three miles of fencing and 16,000 bolted-together tires, along with 16 huge spectator grandstands, seven pedestrian bridges and giant-vision boards for full-circuit TV coverage.

The heavy-duty concrete blocks and fencing, however, are merely a start.

“Leading up to race weekend, our staff will also install hospitality suites, tents, electrical equipment, phones, porta-johns, trash containers and a hundred other little things up until race weekend,” said Dwight Tanaka, director of operations for the Grand Prix Association.  “Then, when the last checkered flag falls on Sunday night, we start to take everything down, inspect it and get ready for next year.”

All businesses along the race circuit, which includes Shoreline Drive, Aquarium Way and Pine Ave., will remain open during construction of the racetrack.

Race fans will certainly get an eyeful as the Stadium SUPER Trucks go to battle, powered by 600-horsepower engines, going door-to-door on the 11-turn, 1.97-mile street course circuit for this special one-of-a-kind event. The Grand Prix exhibition will serve as the build-up to the Robby Gordon OFF-ROAD Stadium SUPER Trucks event scheduled the following weekend (April 26-27) at the famed L.A. Memorial Coliseum. The series then moves to San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium on May 4 and May 18 for two thrilling venues to round out the commemorative California portion of the inaugural 2013 season. Image Credit: TGPLB

The 2013 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will feature racing from the IZOD IndyCar Series, Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series, Firestone Indy Lights, Pirelli World Challenge, Formula DRIFT, Robby Gordon OFF-ROAD Stadium SUPER Trucks and the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race.

SLIDESHOW

Fans can select and pay for their seats, parking and paddock passes online at gplb.com.  Tickets can also be ordered by calling the toll-free ticket hotline, (888) 82-SPEED, and callers can request a printed ticket brochure that includes a circuit map, ticket prices, order form and other information.  Also featured on gplb.com is the latest Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach news, downloadable ticket brochure and racetrack information, photos and ongoing announcements of special race week activities.

Ticket prices range from $28 for a Friday General Admission ticket to $130 for a three-day ticket that includes Sat./Sun. reserved seating in grandstand upper levels.  Pre-paid parking packages are also available, along with handicapped seating, IndyCar Paddock passes, Super Photo tickets and a wide variety of Hospitality Club packages.

Fans can also follow the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on Facebook at GrandPrixLB and on Twitter @ToyotaGPLB.

The track takes shape on the streets of downtown Long Beach surrounding the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and encompassing the Aquarium of the Pacific and a portion of the Pike at Rainbow Harbor complex. The start/finish line is on Shoreline Drive.

For the Southern California automobile race enthusiast, motor culture heaven begins Friday through Sunday, April 19-21, 2013 with the 39th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on 1.97 miles of pavement defined between the lines of K-Rail blocks of concrete.

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Rumors Race On IZOD IndyCar Series Euro Event Date

Is there a more beautiful setting for a race circuit? I don’t think so. Here is Mugello portrayed as an oil painting. Caption and Image Credit: RacePainter via intentsgp.com

Rumors Race On IZOD IndyCar Series Euro Event Date

Rumors are in full swing about a race in the 2013 season to be held in Europe in the late summer. It appears that on September 15, 2013, an IZOD IndyCar Series (IICS) race has been posted on the Mugello circuit near Florence, Italy.

Found On Twitter:

Graham Rahal
22 minutes ago via Twitter ·
Anyone else find it interesting that the Mugello circuit in Italy has an @IndyCar race listed on its website for Sept. 15th all the sudden?

Mugello Circuit (Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello) is a race track in the Mugello region of Italy near Florence. Its length is 5.245 km (3.259 mi). It has 15 turns and a long straight.Grand Prix motorcycle racing host an annual event here (MotoGP and smaller classes). Also, the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters hold an annual event. The track is property of Scuderia Ferrari which uses it for Formula One testing. The first race of the A1GP 2008/09 season was originally planned to be held at the Mugello circuit on 21 September 2008. However, the race had to be cancelled due to the delay in building the new chassis for the new race cars. Caption Credit: Wikipedia - Image Credit: Wallpapers via mugellocircuit.it

This excerpted and edited from mugellocircuit.it

Event 

Title: Indy Car Series 

When: 15.09.2013 

Category: Races 

Description Sorry, no description available 
[Reference Here]

Testing begins this week in Sebring, Florida ... followed next week at Sonoma Raceway in Northern California. These rumors will continue as the pre-silly season hits full stride.

UPDATE (from Twitter):

Matt Breeden

Graham, there were some discussions, but there will not be a race in Italy in 2013 or the foreseeable future.

Matt Breeden is the current Vice President of Business Affairs at IndyCar Series. If anyone may have the real inside scoop, it's Matt (at least until IndyCar changes its mind - example: read that as the Randy Bernard tenure).

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