TOYOTA GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH
Race Day – Sunday, April 18

Race fans can elebration day; the drivers must wait until Victory Circle
Photo: JackFleming.com

It's race day!

The buzz at the Grand Prix is electric. For the organizers, several months of very careful planning have reached their peak.

For the drivers, their moment in the sun is about to happen; they will either experience, a Wild World of Sports Moment, "the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat."

Even off the track, there is fast and furious action in the pits
Photo: JackFleming.com

For the fans, it's a day of settling in to watch the main event, soak up the sun and soak up the suds.

The start of the race is a celebration.

The Miss GP and Grid Girls add to Sunday's atmosphere.
Photos: JackFleming.com

The teams take their cars out tot their starting positions, the Grid Girls and the Miss Grand Prix girls carry signs and stand next to the drivers to identify them to the fans, the National Anthem is sung, there is a flyover of military jets, parachutes drop to the finish line and some lucky person gets to say the most famous words in racing, "Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!"

Tom Cruise (right) cruises through the pits on race day.

Then the cars fire up, everyone clears the grid and the cars take to the track. The race begins a couple of laps later with the dropping of the green flag. The checkered flag is displayed two hours later.

In between the two, people take in the race action or walk around the huge area that comprises this temporary street course. There are merchandize vendors, an indoor Expo, food stands and plenty of bars. The Hyatt, Yard House, Mai Tai bar and Auld Dubliner are al full of race fans.

There are actually three races on Sunday. At 10:40, the Firestone Indy Lights, which are comprised of drivers working their way up to Indy Cars, has a one-hour event. The Indy Car race begins at 1:15. At its conclusion, after a demonstration of dynamic Drifting, the heavy-horsepower sports cars of the World Challenge Series race from 4:15-5:15 p.m.

Some people prefer to party in the bars during the race.

– LINKS TO MORE GRAND PRIX STORIES – 

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

PubClub Home Page