Grand Prix of Long Beach
The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is an automobile race at the Long Beach Grand Prix Circuit in Long Beach, California, United States. It was first held in 1975. From 1976 to 1983 it belonged to the Formula 1 World Championship. Since 1984 it belongs to the highest category in American Championship Car Racing. Since 2008 it is part of the racing calendar in the IndyCar Series.
History
On September 28, 1975, the race, then known as Long Beach Grand Prix, first held. In the first edition it was part of the formula 5000. 1976 the Grand Prix of Long Beach has been added to the race calendar of the Formula 1 World Championship. The race was renamed in this championship under the name United States Grand Prix West, and is included in the statistics under this name. Until the Formula 1 1983 season the race a World Cup race of the Formula 1 1980 Clay Regazzoni was killed in the race remained elusive and has since been a paraplegic.
In 1984, the Long Beach Grand Prix in the racing calendar of the Indy Car World Series, the highest category in American Championship Car Racing. Since 1986 the race under the name Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will be held. The race remained until 2007 in the racing calendar of the championship, which changed its name to the 1997 season and then as CART (1997-2003 ) and Champ Car series (2004-2007) was performed. By 2003 CART sanctioned the race. From 2004 to 2008 inclusive OWRS.
After the Champ Car series had been discontinued, the race was added for the 2008 season in the racing calendar of the IndyCar Series. After the 2008 race was still sanctioned by OWRS, took the Indy Racing League ( since 2011 IndyCar ) from 2009 this task. The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach 2008 is the last race, which was organized by OWRS. All drivers who were enrolled for the IndyCar Series season, were awarded points. On the same day was held another round of the IndyCar Series Indy Japan 300 with the. When Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach started those teams that were originally going to go in the Champ Car series to launch in 2008.