The NTT IndyCar Series is back in action this Sunday (April 16) for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. The second longest tenured race on the calendar is the third stop in the 18-race 2023 schedule.
Josef Newgarden is the defending race winner and will look to repeat at Long Beach as well as make it two-in-a-row on the year after outdueling Pato O’Ward to the finish at Texas Motor Speedway two weeks ago.
The 11-turn temporary street circuit is a tight, historic course through the Long Beach Convention Center along with a captivating run down Shoreline Drive. Some of the greatest IndyCar drivers have conquered this track, such as Mario Andretti, Al Unser Jr., and Paul Tracy. Six former winners will take to the track this weekend, with multiple storylines in play.
Defending Winner
Newgarden, in his No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet, will try to duplicate his work from the previous season. He arrived at Long Beach last year as the Texas race winner and used pit strategy to leapfrog front runners Colton Herta and Alex Palou to win his first Acura Grand Prix. If he triumphs again, Newgarden will find himself in good championship contention and complete two-thirds of the PeopleReady Force for Good Challenge requirements to earn its $1 million prize. All that would remain is a win on a permanent road course, with two on tap after Long Beach.
Last Year’s Contender
Challenging Newgarden last year was Romain Grosjean in the No. 28 DHL Andretti Autosport Honda, and look for him to be a contender again. In his first full IndyCar season in 2022, Grosjean showed his skills on the tight street course, chasing the Team Penske driver over the final racing stint. If not for an untimely yellow at the end, Grosjean might have overtaken the American over the final lap. This year, the Frenchman has had a great start to the season, but no results to show for it. At the first race at St. Petersburg, he had a superior car but tangled with Scott McLaughlin while battling for the lead. And at Texas, he led one lap and was comfortably in the top five when he lost control while trying to get fourth position coming to the white flag. A finish with his car intact is what he needs to get the season rolling.
Redemption
Fellow Andretti Autosport driver and California-native Herta has quickly taken to his home track in his No. 26 Gainbridge Honda, winning in 2021 and leading early in last year’s race before stuffing his car in the wall trying to…
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