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Push-to-pass
modified, delay removed for 2013
By
Deborah Drab
03/19/2013
IndyCar has chosen for 2013 to again
modify its P2P rules with the removal of the
activation delay and tweeking the time length and
number of burst periods.
The length of each boost burst will vary
between course type (road or street); St Petersburg,
Detroit, Sonoma, Baltimore and Houston will have 10
burst of 15 seconds for a total of 150 seconds.
Barber, Long Beach, Sao Paulo, Toronto and Mid-Ohio
will have, again 10 bursts, but at 20 seconds a
burst for a total of 200 seconds.
“If
the driver chooses to use one, they can’t cancel it.
It’s use it or lose it,”
INDYCAR vice president
of technology Will Phillips said.
“That in itself makes it more difficult to choose to
use as a defense mechanism rather than as an
overtaking opportunity. You’ll have to be careful
because there are only 10 opportunities to use it
during a race. The length of each push of the button
should cover the longest straight, if that’s where
they choose to use it, of each circuit.”
PRESS
RELEASE - 03/04/2013
PAUL TRACY,
ADRIAN FERNANDEZ TO BE INDUCTED
INTO LONG
BEACH MOTORSPORTS WALK OF FAME
LONG BEACH, Calif. (March 4, 2013) --
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.
“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.
The induction ceremony kicks off the Toyota Grand
Prix of Long Beach weekend, which brings
approximately 175,000 people to Downtown Long Beach.
For more information, visit
www.gplb.com ,
call (888) 82-SPEED, or follow the race on Facebook
at GrandPrixLB and on Twitter @ToyotaGPLB.
IndyCar
Testing at
Sonoma
By Timo Hulett
02/27/2013
Today at Sonoma raceway, is the last test day (part
of a Chevrolet manufacturer/ Honda manufacturer test
) on the schedule before the first open test of
2013 at Barber Motorsports Park.
Six
race teams were confirmed for today’s test, teams
included are KV Racing Technology, Panther Dreyer &
Reinbold Racing, Dragon Racing, Schmidt Peterson
Motorsports, Ed Carpenter Racing and Panther Racing
.
Fans coming out to Sonoma, will be treated to free
admission from 9am to 5pm.
PRESS
RELEASE - 02/25/2013
TOYOTA GRAND PRIX OF LONG
BEACH VIP CLUBS
ARE THE BEST SEATS IN THE
HOUSE!
LONG
BEACH, Calif. (Feb. 25, 2013) -- Getting VIP access
to most major sports event in Southern California
generally means being or knowing someone who is
“in.”
Not, however, at the 39th
Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 19-21!
America’s #1 Street Race
has a menu of unique VIP Clubs open to any racing
fan who wants to be up close to the action, enjoy
the best in food and drink and see the race from an
entirely different perspective in first-class
comfort.
The
ultimate Grand Prix VIP experience is the three-day
Pit Lane Club, canopied and elevated mere feet away
from all the frenetic pit stops and the high-speed
front straightaway. The Pit Lane Club ($875 per
ticket) includes a parking pass with every two
tickets, IZOD IndyCar paddock access and limited pit
access, as well as continental breakfast, upscale
dining and full open bar all weekend, along with
televisions throughout the club.
The three-day Seaside Club is right on top of the
hot Turn 9 racing action, located at the end of the
long, fast back straightaway and a favorite passing
spot for drivers.
For $550 per person, you’ll enjoy IZOD
IndyCar paddock access, limited pit access,
continental breakfast, deluxe luncheon and
complimentary beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages
served Sat./Sun., along with
TVs in the canopied viewing structure and
Hospitality area so you won’t miss a lap.
For a spectacular view of the races, you can’t top
the Vista Club, located on the roof of the 17-story
Hyatt Regency Hotel, offering a terrific panorama of
the cars roaring down the front straightaway and the
famed Long Beach waterfront.
The Vista Club features continental
breakfast, superb buffet lunch and complimentary
beer, wine and soft drinks Sat./Sun., IZOD IndyCar
Paddock access, televisions and indoor restrooms.
Prices: $495 (3 days), $305 (Sun. only) and $275
(Fri./Sat. only).
If you just want a First Class Sunday-only
experience, the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Turn One Club
offers great upper-rows grandstand seating, a
souvenir program, continental breakfast, buffet
lunch, complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and
full-service cash bar for just $160 ($98 for juniors
12 years of age and under). Similarly, the C300
Paddock Club offers the same Sunday-only option for
race fans.
Treat yourself – and your family or friends – to an
unforgettable race weekend.
To order, or for more information about
Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach VIP Clubs, contact
Martin Bannon (562-490-4530 or
mbannon@gpalb.com),
Ryan Peterson (562-490-4508 or
rpeterson@gpalb.com) or visit
www.gplb.com.
The 2013 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will
feature racing from the IZOD IndyCar Series, Toyota
Pro/Celebrity Race, Tequila Patrón American Le Mans
Series, Firestone Indy Lights, Pirelli World
Challenge, Robby Gordon OFF-ROAD Stadium SUPER
Trucks and the Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge.
-TGPLB-
Briscoe’s
lack of full time ride in Indy Car, a mystery to
this writer…
By Timo Hulett
02/21/2013
Ryan Briscoe’s 2012 season was above average with 15
starts, 1 win, 1 pole (Indy 500) and finishing 6th
in the point’s race. Those are not shabby
stats when you take into account what a competitive
season 2012 ended up being.
So why is Briscoe, a month from the first race of
2013; still looking for a ride? Lack of sponsorship?
When he parted ways with Penske in September, Ryan
had several teams showing interest right out of the
box. One by one the seats filled until there were
none left. Hard to believe.
Ryan stated recently that he would like to take this
time to possibly pursue some sports car interests,
saying he has always wanted to race Le Mans as well
as some ALMS events.
As IndyCar opportunities have dwindled, the last
hope seems to have faded away with Dragon Racing
having signed Sebastian Saavedra to their number 6
car and leaving Ryan without any other
possibilities. Ryan still has hopes of an Indy 500
ride.
This is a time, with a growing fan base; that this
series needs to keep all the established, fan
favorite talent in the series full time. You lose
drivers and you lose fans, not a good move.
2013 INDYCAR GETS NEW
SAFETY DESIGNED STRUCTUAL PARTS
By Timo Hulett
02/19/2013
INDIANAPOLIS–
Designed by Dallara, these structural pieces modify
the sides of the monocoque. According to Indycar
these additional chassis pieces are bolted onto the
sides of the cockpit at driver’s shoulder height and
are not visible from the outside of the car. They
have no effect on aerodynamics.
“It is
important that we continue to evolve the chassis
based on the data gathered to further enhance
performance and safety,” INDYCAR vice president of
technology Will Phillips said. “We were extremely
pleased with the performance of the new car last
season and continue to study data and feedback to
improve the car.”
The structural
additions are designed to greatly reduce the risk of
cars “rotating on side impact.
PRESS
RELEASE - 02/19/2013
FAMED TOYOTA GRAND PRIX
OF LONG BEACH
RACING CIRCUIT BEGINNING
TO TAKE SHAPE
LONG BEACH, Calif. (Feb. 19, 2013) -- The green flag
signaling the start of construction for the 39th
Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, which will
run April 19-21, fell this morning on Shoreline
Drive, the famed racing circuit’s front
straightaway.
The honorary construction foremen 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 blocks
that line the track marks the beginning of two
months of work preparing for the 175,000 fans
expected during race weekend.
“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 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 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.
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.
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.
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