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[Risil]

Verizon Indykar Series round 2 of 17: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach XLIII

Loki the Instagram Dog here. Bark bark. I’m here to lend my social media pawprint in support of my boy Spencer Pigot at the Long Beach Grand Prix. Spencer had a sniff of a good result before receiving some ruff treatment from an exploding brake disc last time out at St Petersburg, but we’re all hoping he’ll be let off the leash on Sunday. If you’ll pardon the expression.

I know, I know. Some of you would like to send me back to the dog house – where I usually live – with my tail between my legs – where it usually is. I was reading an Op-ed in the New Bork Times the other day about embracing the commercialization of baseball. If could actually read, I would surely say: I couldn’t agree more. Indycar has no stars on the level of Airedale Earnhardt Jr. It can’t rely on the prestige of the Indy Five-dachshundred forever. The sport should move with the times and embrace new media with as much en-fur-siasm as it embraces new automotive technologies. If you listened to some people, we’d still be in a world of bias-paw tyres and spaniel gearshifters.
 
But enough about me. I’m excited enough about this race that I’m jumping up and down or rotating in circles on the spot or chasing bumblebees or whatever it is that excited dogs do. Can Sebastien Borzoi repeat his unlikely St Pete victory? Can Simon Pugenaud strike back for Chevy? Will Scottie Dixon have a trouble-free race this time? We won’t find out till Sunday afternoon. Bark bark bark.

When do I have to tune in? You know, if I want to watch the Indycars.
 
Friday, 7 April
7.40-9.40: IMSA practice
10.00-10.45: Indycar practice 1
14.00-14.45: Indycar practice 2
16.45-18.15: IMSA qualifying
18.45-20.45: Super Drift Challenge #1
 
Saturday, 8 April
9.20-9.45: Pirelli World Challenge qualifying
10.45-11.30: Indycar practice 3
12.00-12.20: Can-Am historics race
13.05-14.45: BUBBA Burger IMSA Sports Car Race
15.30-16.45: Indycar qualifying
17.05-17.25: Stadium Super Trucks race 1
18.00-20.00: Super Drift Challenge #2
 
Sunday, 9 April
9.00-9.30: Indycar warm-up
10.00-10.50: Pirelli World Challenge race
13.30: Long Beach Grand Prix! (85 laps)
16.05-16.25: Stadium Super Trucks race 2
 
News, speculation and unimportant comment
After the shortest three-week break I can remember, Indycar bursts back into our consciousnesses with the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, or as the description text under its Google search entry poignantly refers to it, CART’s Long Beach Grand Prix. The race, and the circuit, don’t need much introduction, which is good because you’ve probably skipped this bit to make dog puns below. It’s got a long curvy bit that for convenience’s sake we call a straight, followed by a pointless jaunt round a fountain, and then some of the hairpins and 90-degree turns that have challenged most of your favourite drivers from 1975 to the present day. The organizers have added an extra 5 laps to the race distance, which they fondly hope will make a two-stop race unviable and instead lead to general enlightenment and rapture. I am no prophet but I think we’ll still need a yellow flag or two to make the race interesting.
 
What’s happened since St Pete? Well, Team Penske have gained the kind of testing mileage that a few F1 teams would probably call “exceeding expectations” if it were their whole pre-season running. They were joined by other Chevy teams at Indianapolis and were taking part in an open test at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. That’s a superspeedway and a sinuous, undulating road course respectively so even if we learned a lot from watching them we haven’t learned a lot about what’ll happen on the streets of every racing fan’s favourite small city adjacent to Los Angeles. What I’m trying to say is that if Max Chilton (second in the timesheets at Barber) finishes second at Long Beach, I’ll still allow myself the emotion of surprise. Power was fastest, which should give us all hope for a Willy P style high-intensity stare of a season.

In sponsor news, Marco Andretti’s backer for this race, hhGregg, are hh gone following the company’s filing for bankruptcy. They'll be replaced by United Fibre and Data, who you might recall sponsored James Hinchcliffe just as he entered his slumpy final year with Andretti Autosport. Ed Carpenter Racing, whose principal backer Fuzzy Zoeller is presumably going to be in Augusta all weekend wearing a green jacket and talking about rookie wins now JR Hildebrand is out of the earshot, have additional dollars coming in from a brave and charismatic dog called Loki. Brave and charismatic IT services provider NTT Data will be sponsoring Scott Dixon this weekend on his way to his inevitable two-pitstop victory.
 
Other thoughts
Shakespeare’s Macbeth, having usurped his king and murdered his best friend, observed:
 
                                           I am in blood
Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o'er
 
Indycars at Long Beach, following on that Sunday from F1’s Chinese GP and MotoGP from Argentina – not to mention IMSA, NASCAR from Texas and the Tour de Corse – will no doubt give us all cause to remember Macbeth’s words. In racing (as we'll be) stepp’d in so far that returning were as tedious as going on. So far from me further imposing on your precious 48 hours of weekend, I’d like to point you to this tiny story of Robin Miller’s about how Scott Pruett, without any open-wheel experience to speak of, put everything he owned, and some of the bank’s money too, to pay for one race with Dick Simon at the 1988 Long Beach GP. Seven years and at least two near-insurmountable setbacks in his open-wheel career later, he was fighting for victories with Patrick Racing. Could it happen today? Probably not. Commiserate below.

[RacingGreen]

43rd -  the 1975 formula 5000 race doesn't seem that long ago - some things just make you feel really old! 

[prommer]

Yay!  As for the Pruett Method, could it happen today?  Ask Rocky Moran Jr... or don't, as he's nowhere to be found!

 

EDIT: Or, for that matter, Ryan Phinny, who will be contesting the LBGP for the third or fourth time in the Vaporware Special...

Edited by prommer, 04 April 2017 - 22:09.

[racinggeek]

"Airedale Earnhardt" made my co-workers wonder what the heck I was trying very hard to not LOL about  Sebastien Borzoi didn't help matters.

 

Not sure what it says about the demographics of my American racing world when the series featuring arguably the most whacked-out, high-tech cars in Long Beach this weekend is sponsored by sumpin' called "BUBBA Burger." Can't say for the fans, but I'd bet 90% of the drivers haven't had a meat burger pass their lips since they were kids.

[Marc Sproule]

some pics from a lot of the early days........

 

https://www.flickr.c...157633205413569

[paulb]

So why hasn't JPM raced a Stadium Supertruck?

Great stuff Marc! I go back to your albums for pics of times that will never be repeated.

[Marc Sproule]

Great stuff Marc! I go back to your albums for pics of times that will never be repeated.

 

 

thanks paul.

 

i miss those days and the people who went with them.

[Risil]

Love your photos Marc. It would be nice to walk Long Beach one day if only to get a grasp on all the permutations of track they've used since 1975.

[jonpollak]

 

because you’ve probably skipped this bit to make dog puns below.

 

 

帮助我们 Loki !!!

 

Jp

[Rob29]

Love your photos Marc. It would be nice to walk Long Beach one day if only to get a grasp on all the permutations of track they've used since 1975.

Tried that when I was there in 1993(not race day) and got told off by LBPD for walking on the tram lines!

Certainly a beautiful place-why are none of the regular 'Road to Indy' support races running this year?

[Risil]

I guess it's because there's an IMSA doubleheader and they need to share track time with the sports car boys.

 

Also maybe the kids from FF2000 would be distracted by Stadium Super Trucks and question why they're trying to make a living racing formula cars on tracks that don't have ramps.

[Afterburner]

Holy shitzu, Batman! It's the Long Beach Grand Prix!



Nice one, Risil. My phone wants to call you Rosie. I hope you don't mind.

[stewie]

Charlie our Labrador wants to know why he can't have his face on an Indycar?

[FLB]

Originally posted by Risil:

 

 

Love your photos Marc. It would be nice to walk Long Beach one day if only to get a grasp on all the permutations of track they've used since 1975

 

I've done exactly that in 2009 (and driven there) just to get a feel for the place. I've done the same around Exhibition Place in Toronto. I wanted to feel the place not as I know it on television and in pictures (and because IndyCar), but as the people who live there feel it.

 

It's an amazing experience.

 

Edit: On the sidewalk where I could walk, the places where I couldn't, I drove, of course!

Edited by FLB, 05 April 2017 - 11:49.

[Prost1997T]

 

Certainly a beautiful place-why are none of the regular 'Road to Indy' support races running this year?

 

Cost containment, mainly. Indy Lights were the only series that did it before anyway.

Edited by Prost1997T, 05 April 2017 - 12:41.

[jonpollak]

Off to visit prommer in Lost Wages ✈️ See ya's in 12 hrs.

[muramasa]

　

I always liked the fact that in US companies (in this case Toyota) that has no involvement with the series (in this case Indycar) yet either title-sponsoring or putting ad-boards in an event (in this case long beach race)

 

It's like seeing Michelin banners in F1 race, "Nissan Singapore Grand Prix", and so on

[stewie]

By the way pop pickers, BT Sport ESPN @ 9.30pm.

[Prost1997T]

　

I always liked the fact that in US companies (in this case Toyota) that has no involvement with the series (in this case Indycar) yet either title-sponsoring or putting ad-boards in an event (in this case long beach race)

 

It's like seeing Michelin banners in F1 race, "Nissan Singapore Grand Prix", and so on

 

Local business in sponsoring local event shocker. Next you'll be wondering why Etihad Airways sponsors the Abu Dhabi GP...

[muramasa]

Local business in sponsoring local event shocker. Next you'll be wondering why Etihad Airways sponsors the Abu Dhabi GP...

Not sure why you are taking it negatively. In F1 you don't see Bridgestone, Michelin, kumho etc banners on track, BMW, Toyota, ford etc banners as well as event title sponsor so you get my point.

[Risil]

It is interesting to someone used to F1. I guess it comes down to the fact that race promoters have much more freedom to cit their own deals in things like track signage and title sponsorship.

As Loki the Dog mentioned above, I'm definitely in the mood to celebrate racing's unruly commercialization.

[SophieB]

After the shortest three-week break I can remember, Indycar bursts back into our consciousnesses with the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, or as the description text under its Google search entry poignantly refers to it, CART’s Long Beach Grand Prix. The race, and the circuit, don’t need much introduction, which is good because you’ve probably skipped this bit to make dog puns below. It’s got a long curvy bit that for convenience’s sake we call a straight, followed by a pointless jaunt round a fountain, 

 

 

THE FOUNTAIN IS NOT POINTLESS, IT'S THERE IN HOPE/FEAR THAT SOMEONE WILL CRASH INTO IT!

[prommer]

Speaking of LB nostalgia, this vid was posted in Robin Miller's mailbag today:

 

[Risil]

 

THE FOUNTAIN IS NOT POINTLESS, IT'S THERE IN HOPE/FEAR THAT SOMEONE WILL CRASH INTO IT!

 

Well you see I thought that at first but a decade and a half later I'm beginning to wonder. On the other hand as far as fountains go it's a pretty good one:
 

[OvDrone]

Unfortunately I am going to miss the first hour of this race and the Nascar one in Texas.

 

Fortunately it's because I am going to see one of my top 5 favorite bands play in Transyl-f**kin-vania: COLD CAVE

 

Edited by OvDrone, 05 April 2017 - 21:28.

[paulb]

帮助我们 Loki !!!


Jp

Only jp could have found this!

Tangent: I love hotel manager's receptions where they literally throw alcohol at you. Thank-you for the scotch and soda, two Heinekens, and the merlot that was going to be dumped.

Edited by paulb, 06 April 2017 - 00:00.

[paulb]

Love your photos Marc. It would be nice to walk Long Beach one day if only to get a grasp on all the permutations of track they've used since 1975.

I recall one weekend on the Pine/Linden leap track where, underage (me) my brother and friends, snuck into a Pine Avenue dive bar for beers.

[whitewaterMkII]

Speaking of LB nostalgia, this vid was posted in Robin Miller's mailbag today:

 

That was my favorite lay out of this track. We used to sit right at the bottom of Lindens Leap, and in a fashion we still do, only the front straight is now the back straight  and ends in a flat right instead of a zero gravity right. Heading down tomorrow and staying on the beach with a few good friends and our brides. PM me if you are there and want to hook up.

Edited by whitewaterMkII, 06 April 2017 - 02:52.

[jonpollak]

Welcome to Lost Wages Jp !!!!
Love the SophieB sighting in an Indycar thread.
Now if we can just get her to watch AND compete. !!!

Dobro pozhalovat'!
Jp

[Marc Sproule]

there are a lot of shots from the original layout in my long beach album,,,,

 

each pic has the date on it. that should help you are interested

 

the album...same as posted earlier:

 

https://www.flickr.c...205413569/page1

 

some favorites from the early days...

 

https://www.flickr.c...57633205413569/

 

https://www.flickr.c...57633205413569/

 

https://www.flickr.c...57633205413569/

 

https://www.flickr.c...57633205413569/

 

https://www.flickr.c...57633205413569/

 

https://www.flickr.c...57633205413569/

[whitewaterMkII]

I recall one weekend on the Pine/Linden leap track where, underage (me) my brother and friends, snuck into a Pine Avenue dive bar for beers.

Please tell me that after those beers you didn't go next for for a tattoo...

[Marc Sproule]

Please tell me that after those beers you didn't go next for for a tattoo...

 

maybe they went to the porn theater on the outside of the front straight.......

Edited by Marc Sproule, 06 April 2017 - 05:10.

[jonpollak]

A Pre Race podcast for you...

https://omny.fm/show...you-ready-for-l

 

Jp

[Peat]

Well you see I thought that at first but a decade and a half later I'm beginning to wonder. On the other hand as far as fountains go it's a pretty good one:
 

Oh, with the pessimism! That's my job!

As long as there is a SATO, there is a chance. BELIEVE!

Edited by Peat, 06 April 2017 - 06:54.

[Muppetmad]

Risil, this is IndyCar. Are you seriously doubting IndyCar's ability to IndyCar at any moment? You're starting to sound like one of those pesky F1 supporters with their "reason" and "logic"... 

Edited by Muppetmad, 06 April 2017 - 06:56.

[PayasYouRace]

Hey, there's a reason why when the fountain section was introduced it had barriers fully round it, and over the years they removed the barriers on the roundabout. 

[stewie]

How fast they going through the fountain section anyway? Can't be that much? Suppose it's managed on a risk management basis.

[teejay]

The Monaco of Indycar! 

 

One of my fave street tracks. 

[Rob29]

By the way pop pickers, BT Sport ESPN @ 9.30pm.

Going to be a busy weekend-IMSA on Motorsport TV saturday

F1 China on Sky

NASCAR on Premier

WTCC on Eurosport

still trying to find link for Japanese F4 which starts today

[Risil]

Risil, this is IndyCar. Are you seriously doubting IndyCar's ability to IndyCar at any moment? You're starting to sound like one of those pesky F1 supporters with their "reason" and "logic"...

I'm not sure I've ever seen "F1", "reason" and "logic" in the same sentence before.

[LeClerc]

Enough of this madness! 

 

Y'all got ya picks in yet??

 

Pick early and feel the righteous glow of predictive powers!

[stewie]

Enough of this madness!

Y'all got ya picks in yet??

Pick early and feel the righteous glow of predictive powers!

It's been so long since St Pete that I'd forgotten about Indy Rivals...

[Vielleicht]

Visited Long Beach last summer with a non-motorsport friend. Managed to tactically suggest visiting things in a certain order such as to to do a sneaky lap of the track. She had no idea! until tyre marks and TOYOTA painted concrete barriers in the middle of a car park gave the game away

[LeClerc]

It's been so long since St Pete that I'd forgotten about Indy Rivals...

 

Go to your room! Now!

[stewie]

Go to your room! Now!

Guilty as charged.

[kevinracefan]

15 FTW

[LeClerc]

15 FTW

 

You too go to your room!

 

'the hell is wrong with you people!

[August]

Certainly a beautiful place-why are none of the regular 'Road to Indy' support races running this year?

Lights weren't at LB last year either. Dropped also Phoenix this year as well as the finale at Laguna Seca. I assume they want to save by not having races in the West.

Then again, LB & PIR seem likely to be back-to-back weeks next year. Maybe that's enough of an incentive for at least Lights to go there.

[prommer]

Woof.

 

 

Ed Carpenter Racing‏ @ECRIndy  7m7 minutes ago

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Our good luck charm is here! #TGPLB @Lokithewolfdog pic.twitter.com/wiQTdlRmsM

[jonpollak]

15 FTW

Laughing stock.
Jp