Grand Prix of Long Beach Race Report
Long Beach, CA - Apr 18 — Circuit: Grand Prix of Long Beach (1.986-mile temporary street circuit) Long Beach, CA
2009 Winner: Dario Franchitti (Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) 84.491 mph average
Weather: Sunny, mild, 68 degrees F
Race Results:
Fn. St. Driver Team Engine/Chassis Laps Average Speed/Notes 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25. 2.
3.
1.
8.
6.
15.
4.
5.
10.
16.
14.
12.
11.
9.
17.
20.
13.
19.
21.
18.
7.
22.
23.
24.
25. Ryan Hunter-Reay
Justin Wilson
Will Power
Scott Dixon
Tony Kanaan
Mario Moraes
Helio Castroneves
Ryan Briscoe
Dan Wheldon
Mike Conway
Vitor Meira
Dario Franchitti
Hideki Mutoh
Marco Andretti
E.J. Viso
Danica Patrick
Simona de Silvestro-R
Takuma Sato-R
Alex Lloyd-R
Raphael Matos
Alex Tagliani
Graham Rahal
Mario Romancini-R
Bertrand Baguette-R
Milka Duno Andretti Autosport
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
Team Penske
Target Chip Ganassi
Andretti Autosport
KV Racing Technology
Team Penske
Team Penske
Panther Racing
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
A.J. Foyt Racing
Target Chip Ganassi
Newman Haas Lanigan
Andretti Autosport
KV Racing Technology
Andretti Autosport
HVM Racing
KV Racing Technology
Dale Coyne Racing
Luczo Dragon/DeFerran
FAZZT Racing
Sarah Fisher Racing
Conquest Racing
Conquest Racing
Dale Coyne Racing Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara 85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
84
84
84
65
58
58
45
10 93.619 mph average; led 64 laps
-5.6031 seconds
-8.5864 seconds; led 19 laps
-10.6287 seconds; led 2 laps
-11.7732 seconds
-16.5171 seconds
-16.8928 seconds
-18.2214 seconds
-19.4375 seconds
-19.9307 seconds
-27.4005 seconds
-28.1352 seconds
-28.6037 seconds
-30.0120 seconds
-31.6182 seconds
-32.1864 seconds
-33.1653 seconds
Running
Running
Running
Did not finish ? contact
Did not finish ? crash
Did not finish ? crash
Did not finish ? suspension
Did not finish ? handling Hunter-Reay Prevails at Long Beach
Quick to take advantage when a very minor problem struck pole qualifier and early-race leader Will Power, Ryan Hunter-Reay snatched the Grand Prix of Long Beach lead on Lap 20 of Sunday's 85-lap IZOD IndyCar Series race and held his advantage to the finish for the first victory for himself ? and his Andretti Autosport team ? since mid-2008.
Starting second, on the outside of the front row, Hunter-Reay trailed two-race winner Power for the first 19 laps, then pounced when the championship leader's Team Penske machine briefly stuck in third gear coming on to the long Shoreline Drive straight. Power's car hesitated for only a second, and the problem never reappeared during the race, but once in the lead Hunter-Reay never looked back, leading a racehigh 64 laps and surrendering the lead only during pit stops. For Hunter-Reay, the victory was his first IndyCar win since Watkins Glen in 2008; and the first for Andretti Autosport since Tony Kanaan's win at Richmond that same year.
For the fourth consecutive race weekend this season, all 25 Honda-powered drivers and teams completed the race weekend without a single failure for the Honda Indy V-8 engine. This weekend, drivers logged a total of 8,976.5 trouble-free miles around 1.986-mile Long Beach temporary street circuit.
Finishing in the runner-up position for the second time this season, Justin Wilson had an eventful afternoon, recovering after contact with the lapped car of Alex Lloyd sent him to pit lane for an unscheduled stop to replace his nose, damaged in the collision on Lap 53. Quick pit work from his Dreyer & Reinbold crew and a charging drive during the final 30 laps moved Wilson up to second at the checkers.
Power's problem with his transmission never recurred, and the Team Penske driver soldiered on to finish third, maintaining his early-season championship points lead. Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon led briefly during the final exchange of pit stops, finishing fourth just ahead of Kanaan. KV Racing's Mario Moraes made the biggest gain in the race, finishing sixth after starting only 15th in the 25-car field.
After four consecutive road-course and temporary-street-circuit races to start the 2010 season, the IZOD IndyCar Series moves on to a four-race oval swing, starting May 1 at the 1.5-mile high banked Kansas Speedway.
IZOD IndyCar Series Championship (after 4 of 17 races):
1. Will Power
2. Helio Castroneves
3. Ryan Huner-Reay
4. Justin Wilson
5. Dario Franchiti
172 (2 wins)
130 (1 win)
129 (1 win)
125
112
5. Scott Dixon
7. Ryan Briscoe
8. Tony Kanaan
9. Raphael Matos
10. Dan Wheldon 112
103
94
84
83 Ryan Hunter-Reay (#37 Andretti Autosport Honda) started 2nd, finished 1st, 1st IZOD IndyCar victory of 2010, 2nd career victory: Man, that was awesome! The car was just so much fun to drive today, it was some of the most fun I've ever had in a race car. I was just in a great zone all day long and I truly think we were the fastest car out there, so we deserved this win. I have to thank [team owner] Michael Andretti and [sponsor] IZOD for putting me out there. I've been living here in California for most of the last six years, so this is like a home race for me. Over the last couple of laps, I started thinking a bit aboutmy mom [who passed away late last year]. This one's for her."
Justin Wilson (#22 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Honda) started 3rd, finished 2nd, 2nd podium finish in four races: I was pretty livid at one point [following contact with the lapped car of Alex Lloyd]. Ryan [Hunter-Reay] had gotten past Lloyd and I went to follow and got the door slammed in my face. I had to pit for a new nose and thought it was all over. But the team was great, it was a fantastic recovery. The car was still nearly perfect, as it had been all weekend, and we got a bit of a break with the yellow [caution flag]. Once more, we're right there, finishing on the podium, and that's exactly what we need to keep doing."
Erik Berkman (President, Honda Performance Development) on today's race: What a perfect day for an IndyCar race! The weather was Southern California perfect and, judging from the reactions of the fans, it was a very popular win for Ryan Hunter-Reay. He drove an inch-perfect race, and Justin Wilson's recovery after his contact with Alex Lloyd was exciting to watch, as well. It's great to see the series get off to such a strong start for new sponsor IZOD, with great crowds and exciting races at all four road- and street-course events. Now we head to the ovals, where the challenges are different but just as interesting, and of course the Indianapolis 500."
More...
2009 Winner: Dario Franchitti (Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) 84.491 mph average
Weather: Sunny, mild, 68 degrees F
Race Results:
Fn. St. Driver Team Engine/Chassis Laps Average Speed/Notes 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25. 2.
3.
1.
8.
6.
15.
4.
5.
10.
16.
14.
12.
11.
9.
17.
20.
13.
19.
21.
18.
7.
22.
23.
24.
25. Ryan Hunter-Reay
Justin Wilson
Will Power
Scott Dixon
Tony Kanaan
Mario Moraes
Helio Castroneves
Ryan Briscoe
Dan Wheldon
Mike Conway
Vitor Meira
Dario Franchitti
Hideki Mutoh
Marco Andretti
E.J. Viso
Danica Patrick
Simona de Silvestro-R
Takuma Sato-R
Alex Lloyd-R
Raphael Matos
Alex Tagliani
Graham Rahal
Mario Romancini-R
Bertrand Baguette-R
Milka Duno Andretti Autosport
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
Team Penske
Target Chip Ganassi
Andretti Autosport
KV Racing Technology
Team Penske
Team Penske
Panther Racing
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
A.J. Foyt Racing
Target Chip Ganassi
Newman Haas Lanigan
Andretti Autosport
KV Racing Technology
Andretti Autosport
HVM Racing
KV Racing Technology
Dale Coyne Racing
Luczo Dragon/DeFerran
FAZZT Racing
Sarah Fisher Racing
Conquest Racing
Conquest Racing
Dale Coyne Racing Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara
Honda Dallara 85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
85
84
84
84
65
58
58
45
10 93.619 mph average; led 64 laps
-5.6031 seconds
-8.5864 seconds; led 19 laps
-10.6287 seconds; led 2 laps
-11.7732 seconds
-16.5171 seconds
-16.8928 seconds
-18.2214 seconds
-19.4375 seconds
-19.9307 seconds
-27.4005 seconds
-28.1352 seconds
-28.6037 seconds
-30.0120 seconds
-31.6182 seconds
-32.1864 seconds
-33.1653 seconds
Running
Running
Running
Did not finish ? contact
Did not finish ? crash
Did not finish ? crash
Did not finish ? suspension
Did not finish ? handling Hunter-Reay Prevails at Long Beach
Quick to take advantage when a very minor problem struck pole qualifier and early-race leader Will Power, Ryan Hunter-Reay snatched the Grand Prix of Long Beach lead on Lap 20 of Sunday's 85-lap IZOD IndyCar Series race and held his advantage to the finish for the first victory for himself ? and his Andretti Autosport team ? since mid-2008.
Starting second, on the outside of the front row, Hunter-Reay trailed two-race winner Power for the first 19 laps, then pounced when the championship leader's Team Penske machine briefly stuck in third gear coming on to the long Shoreline Drive straight. Power's car hesitated for only a second, and the problem never reappeared during the race, but once in the lead Hunter-Reay never looked back, leading a racehigh 64 laps and surrendering the lead only during pit stops. For Hunter-Reay, the victory was his first IndyCar win since Watkins Glen in 2008; and the first for Andretti Autosport since Tony Kanaan's win at Richmond that same year.
For the fourth consecutive race weekend this season, all 25 Honda-powered drivers and teams completed the race weekend without a single failure for the Honda Indy V-8 engine. This weekend, drivers logged a total of 8,976.5 trouble-free miles around 1.986-mile Long Beach temporary street circuit.
Finishing in the runner-up position for the second time this season, Justin Wilson had an eventful afternoon, recovering after contact with the lapped car of Alex Lloyd sent him to pit lane for an unscheduled stop to replace his nose, damaged in the collision on Lap 53. Quick pit work from his Dreyer & Reinbold crew and a charging drive during the final 30 laps moved Wilson up to second at the checkers.
Power's problem with his transmission never recurred, and the Team Penske driver soldiered on to finish third, maintaining his early-season championship points lead. Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon led briefly during the final exchange of pit stops, finishing fourth just ahead of Kanaan. KV Racing's Mario Moraes made the biggest gain in the race, finishing sixth after starting only 15th in the 25-car field.
After four consecutive road-course and temporary-street-circuit races to start the 2010 season, the IZOD IndyCar Series moves on to a four-race oval swing, starting May 1 at the 1.5-mile high banked Kansas Speedway.
IZOD IndyCar Series Championship (after 4 of 17 races):
1. Will Power
2. Helio Castroneves
3. Ryan Huner-Reay
4. Justin Wilson
5. Dario Franchiti
172 (2 wins)
130 (1 win)
129 (1 win)
125
112
5. Scott Dixon
7. Ryan Briscoe
8. Tony Kanaan
9. Raphael Matos
10. Dan Wheldon 112
103
94
84
83 Ryan Hunter-Reay (#37 Andretti Autosport Honda) started 2nd, finished 1st, 1st IZOD IndyCar victory of 2010, 2nd career victory: Man, that was awesome! The car was just so much fun to drive today, it was some of the most fun I've ever had in a race car. I was just in a great zone all day long and I truly think we were the fastest car out there, so we deserved this win. I have to thank [team owner] Michael Andretti and [sponsor] IZOD for putting me out there. I've been living here in California for most of the last six years, so this is like a home race for me. Over the last couple of laps, I started thinking a bit aboutmy mom [who passed away late last year]. This one's for her."
Justin Wilson (#22 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Honda) started 3rd, finished 2nd, 2nd podium finish in four races: I was pretty livid at one point [following contact with the lapped car of Alex Lloyd]. Ryan [Hunter-Reay] had gotten past Lloyd and I went to follow and got the door slammed in my face. I had to pit for a new nose and thought it was all over. But the team was great, it was a fantastic recovery. The car was still nearly perfect, as it had been all weekend, and we got a bit of a break with the yellow [caution flag]. Once more, we're right there, finishing on the podium, and that's exactly what we need to keep doing."
Erik Berkman (President, Honda Performance Development) on today's race: What a perfect day for an IndyCar race! The weather was Southern California perfect and, judging from the reactions of the fans, it was a very popular win for Ryan Hunter-Reay. He drove an inch-perfect race, and Justin Wilson's recovery after his contact with Alex Lloyd was exciting to watch, as well. It's great to see the series get off to such a strong start for new sponsor IZOD, with great crowds and exciting races at all four road- and street-course events. Now we head to the ovals, where the challenges are different but just as interesting, and of course the Indianapolis 500."
More...


