TOYOTA GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH 2010
A Fans Guide to the 36th Annual Event

Free concerts are part of the show on Friday and Saturday.
Photo: JackFleming.com

• 2010 Grand Prix, April 16-18
• Thursday night (April 15) Thunder on Pine Ave. Street Festival. Pit Stop Demos, Bands, X-Games type Demos, Miss Grand Prix Finals
• Fiesta Friday Featuring Latin Cross-Over Band
• Pro/Celebrity Race Saturday, 11:40 a.m.
• Free concert Saturday featuring Cheap Trick, 6:30 p.m.
• Indy Car race Sunday, 1:15 p.m.

We're never ones to pass up a good party. Each April, people in Southern California are rewarded with the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the perfect combination of major sporting event and giant outdoor cocktail party.

The Grand Prix is the unofficial beginning of Springtime in Southern California, and more than 200,000 people rip through the turnstiles for three days of speed and socializing.

Danica Patrick is among the racers for 2010.
Photo: JackFleming.com

There are stars in the crowd – celebrities from Hollywood, famous sports figures and rock band members – and on the track. Danica Patrick and Helio Castroneves (who likes to climb fences after he wins) are among the past participants as part of the featured Indy Car It is truly the Grand Prix of Monaco of the United States.

Everyone's a winner at the Grand Prix!
Photo: JackFleming.com

There is also a Pro/Celebrity race which has had Captain Kirk, Donny Osmond and Cameron Diaz driving against other actors, actresses and athletes. Captain Kirk found it an adventure that was far more difficult than guiding the Enterprise to bold new worlds. This year’s bang-up features Keanu Reeves , Christian Slater, Tony Hawk and Elaine’s deep-voiced boyfriend from Seinfield, Patrick Warburton.

The Miss Grand Prix contest is taking place Thursday on Pine Ave.
Photo: JackFleming.com

The party starts each afternoon as hundreds of race fans get fueled up on the type of "methanol" served at The Yard House, a harborside indoor/outdoor bar.

At the track, fans congregate at the "Unofficial Gathering Spot," the King Taco at the entrance to the paddock. From there, they can go to the Convention Center for the Expo and bars and souvenir stands.

During the day, a Marichi band plays at a bar on the Promenade/

The Promenade has a fun outdoor bar with a Marichi band and leads to "the Birdcage," steps which put fans on the other side of the track.

For those with seats (General Admission tickets are not reserved seats), a favorite spot is in sections 27 and 28, from where they can holler across the track to harass long-time PA announcer Bruce Flanders.

The Yard House is always fun but there are other many other bar s, too.

Good bars to hit include inside the Hyatt, the Yard House in Shoreline Village and the Mai Tai bar at the top of the rollercoaster bridge above Turn 1.

At the end of the day there are free concerts on Friday and Saturday and plenty of bars and restaurants along lower and upper Pine Ave. A PubClub favorite is the Auld Dubliner. Links below provide further details, Grand Prix photos and a history of the 35 years of the race.

Ticket prices are as follows:
• GA $35 (Friday), $42 (Saturday), $52 (Sunday), $68 (3-day)
• Grandstands: $68-73 (Sunday), $57 (Saturday)
• 3-day Grandstand: $65-125
• Paddock Pass: $20 (per day), $50 (3-day)

Tickets: 888-82-SPEED.

– LINKS TO MORE GRAND PRIX STORIES – 

• Grand Prix History
• Party Bus to the Grand Prix
• Miss Grand Prix
• Friday at the Grand Prix
• Saturday at the Grand Prix
• Sunday at the Grand Prix
• Who Has The Best Job at the Grand Prix!?
• Long Beach Restaurants & Nightlife

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